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 "I'll report as soon as your child is better, sir."

"She isn't my child, doctor, but do you care for her as if she were. Spare no expense. She must not, she must not die upon my hands. I'd no right to retain her as long as I have, but—but—Don't let her die, doctor, and you'll save me from everlasting remorse."

"Go below, Mr. Smith. Peter, attend your master. There are enough of us here, and this little lady will soon be all right. It's croup only, and—What has she been eating lately?"

"What has she not? How can I tell? But one thing I know, she ate no dinner to-night," answered the host.

"So much the better. Now, Mr. Smith"—a wave of the hand in the direction of the doorway suggested that the master of the house was banished from the sickroom.

Daylight was breaking when at last the doctor led Mrs. Merriman down the stairs and to her own home, leaving Mary and Peter on watch, and promising a speedy return, with