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 consternation, Dr. Ayscough had been telegraphed off to the other side of England, and the nurse could not possibly leave the place she was in till the afternoon.

"What are we to do, Mrs. Hopkinson? it is really too bad; what business had that woman in Yorkshire to telegraph for our doctor? and then that other woman detaining Mrs. Smith—so selfish! and my poor darling will have no doctor and no nurse, she will die."

"Oh no, she wont," said Mrs. Hopkinson, half laughing, "unless you go and put it into her head to do so. I hope I am as good a month nurse as any in the kingdom; and you had better send for Mr. Duckett, of course he is not to be compared to Doctor Ayscough, but he is in good practice at Dulham, and we may as well have him in the house."

Mr. Duckett had always felt that Lady Chester ought to be his property; he had occasionally attended at Pleasance, and during the last week his slumbers had been unusually light, and his attention