"Fit fur nothin' but to bury his poor carcuss in!" she grunted, and

had recourse to her own plethoric pocket for a clay pipe and a bag

of tobacco.

This lighted by a coal from the hearth, she tied a second

handkerchief over that she wore, turban-wise, on her head, mumbling

something about "cold ears" and "rheumatiz;" settled herself in a

rush-bottomed chair, put her feet upon the rounds of another, and

was regularly on duty, prepared for any emergency, and to be alarmed

at nothing that might occur.

So strict was the discipline she established over herself in fifteen

minutes, that she did not stir at the creaking of the bolt, or the

shriller warning of the unoiled hinges, as the door moved cautiously

back, and a cloaked form became dimly visible in the opening. A

survey of the inside of the chamber, the unmoving nurse and her

senseless charge, with the fumes of brandy and tobacco, reassured

the visitant. Her stockingless feet were thrust into wadded

slippers; over her white night-dress was a dark-blue wrapper, and,

in addition to this protection against the cold, she was enveloped

in a great shawl, disposed like a cowl about her head. Without

rustle or incautious mis-step she gained the side of the improvised

bed, and leaned over it. The face of the occupant was turned

slightly toward the left shoulder, and away from the light. The

apparition raised herself, with a gesture of impatience, caught the

candle from the rickety table at the head of the mattress, snuffed

it hurriedly, and again stooped toward the recumbent figure, with it

in her hand.

It was then that the vigilant watcher unclosed her flabby lids,

slowly, and without start or exclamation, much as a dozing cat

blinks when a redder sparkle from the fire dazzles her out of

dreams. One hard wink, one bewildered stare, and Pbillis was awake

and wary. Her chin sank yet lower upon her chest, but the black eyes

were rolled upward until they bore directly upon the strange

tableau. The shawl had dropped from the lady's head, and the candle

shone broadly upon her features, as upon the sick man's profile.

Apparently dissatisfied with this view, she slipped her disengaged

hand under the cheek which was downward, and drew his face around

into full sight.

"And bless your soul, honey!" Aunt Phillis told her young mistress,

long afterward, "you never see sech a look as was on hern--while her

eyes was thar bright and big, they was jist like live coals sot in a

lump of dough--she growed so white!"




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