Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/254

 basons, and still more at the fatigue of putting them in their proper places. This was, however, insisted upon by Mrs Mason, under whose directions all was preserved in order. In the attendance on the persons of the sick, she was assisted by an old woman of the village, but all the medicines were administered by her own hands. She was anxious to have Robert removed from the dark and airless passage in which he lay; but he so violently opposed the measure, that she could not get it effected; so that she was obliged to leave him to his fate; and after the third day the doctor gave little hopes of his recovery. As to his poor father, his death had been for some time hourly expected; but towards the evening of the twenty-fourth day, he appeared somewhat to revive. His senses returned; and observing Mrs Mason by his bedside, he asked her for his wife and children. On his repeating the question, Mrs Mason found herself under the painful necessity