faded the visit of his relatives. It had been a dull, wet day and
he was sitting by his fire, when there came a tap at his door.
"Flora;" by which juvenescent name his aged Indian handmaid was
known, usually announced her presence with an imitation of a
curlew's cry: it could not be her. He fancied he heard the
trailing of a woman's dress against the boards, and started to his
feet, deathly pale, with a name upon his lips. But the door was
impatiently thrown open, and showed Bessy Robinson! And the baby!

With a feeling of relief he could not understand he offered her a
seat. She turned her frank eyes on him curiously.

"You look skeert!"

"I was startled. You know I see nobody here!"

"Thet's so. But look yar, do you ever use a doctor?"

Not clearly understanding her, he in turn asked, "Why?"

"Cause you must rise up and get one now--thet's why. This yer baby
of ours is sick. We don't use a doctor at our house, we don't
beleeve in 'em, hain't no call for 'em--but this yer baby's parents
mebbee did. So rise up out o' that cheer and get one."

James North looked at Miss Robinson and rose, albeit a little in
doubt, and hesitating.

Miss Robinson saw it. "I shouldn't hev troubled ye, nor ridden
three mile to do it, if ther hed been any one else to send. But