Shehadseenthehoppickers’hutsandhadrecognisedtheircondition。Merebrickshedsinwhichthepickerssleptuponbundlesofhayorstrawintheirbestdays；intheirdecaytheydidnotevenprovideshelter。Infineweatherthehopgathererssleptwellenoughinthem，cookingtheirfoodingypsy—fashionintheopen。Whentheraindescended，itmustrundownwallsanddripthroughtheholesintheroofsinstreamswhichwouldsoakclothesandbedding。TheworstthatNigelandMrs。
　　Brenthadimpliedwastrue。Illnessofanyorder，undersuchcircumstances，wouldhavesmallchanceofrecovery，butmalignanttyphoidwithoutshelter，withoutpropernourishmentornursing，hadnotonechanceinamillion。Andhe——thisoneman——stoodaloneinthemidstofthetragedy——responsibleandhelpless。Hewouldfeelhimselfresponsibleassheherselfwould，ifshewereinhisplace。Shewasconsciousthatsuddenlytheeventoftheafternoon——theinterviewuponthemarshes，hadrecededuntilithadbecomeanalmostunmeaningincident。Whatdidthedegenerate，melodramaticfollymatter————！
　　Shehadrestlesslyleftherchairbeforethedressing—table，andwaswalkingtoandfro。Shepausedandstoodlookingdownatthecarpet，thoughshescarcelysawit。
　　"Nothingmattersbutonething——oneperson，"sheownedtoherselfaloud。"Isupposeitisalwayslikethis。Rosy，Ughtred，evenfatherandmother——everyoneseemslessnearthantheywere。Itistoostrong——toostrong。Itis————"thewordsdroppedslowlyfromherlips，"thestrongestthing——
　　intheworld。"
　　Sheliftedherfaceandthrewoutherhands，alovelyyounghalf—sadsmilecurlingthedeepcornersofhermouth。"Sometimesonefeelssodisdained，"shesaid——"sodisdainedwithallone’spower。PerhapsIamanunwantedthing。"
　　Buteveninthiscasetherewereaidsonemightmakeanefforttogive。Shewenttoherwriting—tableandsatthinkingforsometime。Afterwardsshebegantowriteletters。ThreeorfourwereaddressedtoLondon——onewastoMr。Penzance……
　　MountDunstanandhisvicarwerewalkingthroughthevillagetothevicarage。Theyhadbeentothehoppickers’hutstoseethepeoplewhowereillofthefever。Bothofthemnoticedthatcottagedoorsandwindowswereshut，andthathereandtherealarmedfaceslookedoutfrombehindlatticedpanes。
　　"Theyareinapanicoffear，"MountDunstansaid，"andbywayofsafeguardtheyshutouteverybreathofairandstifleindoors。Somethingmustbedone。"
　　Catchingtheeyeofawomanwhowaspeeringoverhershortwhitedimityblind，hebeckonedtoherauthoritatively。
　　Shecametothedoorandhesitatedthere，curtsyingnervously。
　　MountDunstanspoketoheracrossthehedge。
　　"Youneednotcomeouttome，Mrs。Binner。Youmaystaywhereyouare，"hesaid。"AreyouobeyingtheordersgivenbytheGuardians？"
　　"Yes，mylord。Yes，mylord，"withmorecurtsys。
　　"Yourhealthisverymuchinyourownhands，"headded。
　　"Youmustkeepyourcottageandyourchildrencleanerthanyouhaveeverkeptthembefore，andyoumustusethedisinfectantIsentyou。Keepawayfromthehuts，andopenyourwindows。Ifyoudon’topenthem，Ishallcomeanddoitforyou。Badairisinfectionitself。Doyouunderstand？"
　　"Yes，mylord。Thankyourlordship。"
　　"Goinandopenyourwindowsnow，andtellyourneighbourstodothesame。Ifanyoneisillletmeknowatonce。
　　ThevicarandIwilldoourbestforeveryone。"
　　Bythattimecuriosityhadovercomefear，andothercottagedoorshadopened。MountDunstanpasseddowntherowandsaidafewwordstoeachwomanormanwholookedout。
　　Questionswereaskedanxiouslyandheansweredthem。Thathewaspersonallyunafraidwascomfortinglyplain，andthemeresightofhimwas，onthewhole，anunexplainablesupport。
　　"Weheardsaidyourlordshipwasgoingaway，"putinastoutmotherwithaheavychildonherarm，aslighttestinessscarcelyconcealedbyrespectfulgood—manners。Shewasamatronwithatemper，andthataMountDunstanshouldavoidresponsibilitiesseemedhighlycredible。
　　"IshallstaywhereIam，"MountDunstananswered。
　　"Myplaceishere。"
　　Theybelievedhim，MountDunstanthoughhewas。Itcouldnotbesaidthattheywerefondofhim，butgraduallyithadbeenborneinuponthemthathiswordwastobereliedon，thoughhismannerwasunalluringandtheyknewhewastoopoortodohisdutybythemorhisestate。Ashewalkedawaywiththevicar，windowswereopened，andinoneortwountidycottagesasuddenflourishingofmopsandbroomsbegan。
　　TherewasdarktroubleinMountDunstan’sface。Inthehutstheyhadlefttwomenstiffontheirstraw，andtwowomenandachildinastateofcollapse。Addedtothesewereothersstrickenhelpless。Anumberofworkersinthehopgardens，onrealisingthedangerthreateningthem，hadgatheredtogetherbundlesandchildren，and，leavingtheharvestbehind，hadgoneonthetrampagain。Thosewhoremainedweretheweakerorlesscautious，orwereheldbysometietothosewhowerealreadyillofthefever。Thevillagedoctorwasanoldmanwhohadspenthisblamelesslifeinbringinglittlecottagersintotheworld，attendingtheirmeaslesandwhoopingcoughs，andtheirfather’sandgrandfather’srheumatics。Hehadneverfacedavillagecrisisinthecourseofhisseventy—fiveyears，andwasaghastandflurriedwithfright。Hismethodsremainedthoseofhisyouth，andweremarkedchieflybyareadinesstoprescribecalomelinanyemergency。Ayoungerandstrongermanwasneeded，aswellasamanofmoremoderntraining。Buteventhemostbrilliantpractitionerofthehourcouldnothaveprovidedshelterandnourishment，andwithoutthemhisskillwouldhavecountedasnothing。Forthreeweekstherehadbeennorain，whichwasaconditionofthebarometernotlikelytolast。
　　Alreadygreycloudsweregatheringandobscuringthebluenessofthesky。
　　Thevicarglancedupwardsanxiously。
　　"Whenitcomes，"hesaid，"therewillbeadownpour，andapersistentone。"
　　"Yes，"MountDunstananswered。
　　Hehadlainawakethinkingthroughoutthenight。Howwasamantosleep！ItwasasBettyVanderpoelhadknownitwouldbe。He，who——beggarthoughhemightbe——wasthelordoftheland，wasthemantofacethestraitofthesepoorworkersontheland，ashisown。Someactionmustbetaken。Whataction？Ashewalkedbyhisfriend’ssidefromthehutswherethedeadmenlayitrevealeditselfthathesawhisway。
　　Theyweregoingtothevicaragetoconsultamedicalbook，butonthewaytheretheypassedapartoftheparkwhere，throughabreakinthetimberthehuge，white，blind—facedhousestoodonview。MountDunstanlaidhishandonMr。
　　Penzance’sshoulderandstoppedhim"Lookthere！"hesaid。"THEREareweather—tightroomsenough。"
　　Astartledexpressionshoweditselfonthevicar’sface。
　　"Forwhat？"heexclaimed"Forahospital，"brusquely"Icangivethemonething，atleast——shelter。"
　　"Itisaveryremarkablethingtothinkofdoing，"Mr。
　　Penzancesaid。
　　"ItisnotsoremarkableasthatlabourersonmylandshoulddieatmygatebecauseIcannotgivethemdecentroofstocoverthem。Thereisaroofthatwillshieldthemfromtheweather。TheyshallbebroughttotheMount。"
　　Thevicarwassilentamoment，andaflushofsympathywarmedhisface。
　　"Youarequiteright，Fergus，"hesaid，"entirelyright。"
　　"Letusgotoyourstudyandplanhowitshallbedone，"
　　MountDunstansaid。
　　Astheywalkedtowardsthevicarage，hewentontalking。
　　"WhenIlieawakeatnight，thereisonethreadwhichalwayswindsitselfthroughmythoughtswhatsoevertheyare。
　　Idon’tfindthatIcandisentangleit。ItconnectsitselfwithReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter。Youwouldknowthatwithoutmytellingyou。Ifyouhadeverstruggledwithaninsanepassion————"
　　"Itisnotinsane，Irepeat，"putinPenzanceunflinchingly。
　　"Thankyou——whetheryouarerightorwrong，"answeredMountDunstan，stridingbyhisside。"WhenIamawake，sheisasmuchapartofmyexistenceasmybreathitself。
　　WhenIthinkthingsover，IfindthatIamaskingmyselfifherthoughtswouldbelikemine。Sheisacreatureofaction。Lastnight，asIlayawake，Isaidtomyself，`ShewouldDOsomething。Whatwouldshedo？’Shewouldnotbeheldbackbyfearofcommentorconvention。Shewouldlookaboutherfortheutilisable，andshewouldfinditsomewhereanduseit。Ibegantosumupthevillageresourcesandfoundnothing——untilmythoughtsledmetomyownhouse。Thereitstood——emptyanduseless。Ifitwerehers，andshestoodinmyplace，shewouldmakeituseful。SoI
　　decided。"
　　"Youarequiteright，"Mr。Penzancesaidagain。
　　Theyspentanhourinhislibraryatthevicarage，arrangingpracticalmethodsfortransformingthegreatballroomintoasortofhospitalward。Itcouldbedonebytheremovalofpiecesoffurniturefromthemanyunusedbedrooms。Therewasalsothetransportationofthepatientsfromthehutstobeprovidedfor。But，whenallthiswasplannedout，eachfoundhimselflookingattheotherwithanunspokenthoughtinhismind。MountDunstanfirstexpressedit。
　　"AsfarasIcangather，thesafetyoftyphoidfeverpatientsdependsalmostentirelyonscientificnursing，andthecautionwithwhichevenliquidnourishmentisgiven。Thewomanwhosehusbanddiedthismorningtoldmethathehadseemedbetterinthenight，andhadaskedforsomethingtoeat。
　　Shegavehimapieceofbreadandasliceofcoldbacon，becausehetoldherhefanciedit。Icouldnotexplaintoher，asshesatsobbingoverhim，thatshehadprobablykilledhim。
　　Whenwehavepatientsinourward，whatshallwefeedthemon，andwhowillknowhowtonursethem？Theydonotknowhowtonurseeachother，andthewomeninthevillagewouldnotruntheriskofundertakingtohelpus。"
　　But，evenbeforehehadleftthehouse，theproblemwassolvedforthem。ThesolvingofitlayinthenoteMissVanderpoelhadwrittenthenightbeforeatStornham。
　　WhenitwasbroughttohimMr。Penzanceglancedupfromcertaincalculationshewasmakinguponasheetofnote—
　　paper。Theaccumulatingdifficultiesmadehimlookwornandtired。Heopenedthenoteandreaditgravely，andthenasgravely，thoughwithachangeofexpression，handedittoMountDunstan。
　　"Yes，sheisacreatureofaction。Shehasheardandunderstoodatonce，andshehasdonesomething。Itisimmenselypractical——itisfine——it——itislovable。"
　　"Doyoumindmykeepingit？"MountDunstanasked，afterhehadreadit。
　　"Keepitbyallmeans，"thevicaranswered。"Itisworthkeeping。"
　　Butitwasquitebrief。Shehadheardoftheoutbreakoffeveramongthehoppickers，andaskedtobeallowedtogivehelptothepeoplewhoweresuffering。Theywouldneedpromptaid。Shechancedtoknowsomethingoftherequirementsofsuchcases，andhadwrittentoLondonforcertainsupplieswhichwouldbesenttothematonce。Shehadalsowrittenfornurses，whowouldbeneededaboveallelse。
　　MightsheaskMr。Penzancetokindlycalluponherforanyfurtherassistancerequired。
　　"Tellherwearedeeplygrateful，"saidMountDunstan，"andthatshehasgivenusgreaterhelpthansheknows。"
　　"Whynotanswerhernoteyourself？"Penzancesuggested。
　　MountDunstanshookhishead。
　　"No，"hesaidshortly。"No。"
　　CHAPTERXLII
　　INTHEBALLROOM
　　ThoughDunstanvillagewascutoff，byitsmisfortune，fromitsusualintercoursewithitsneighbours，insomemysticmannervillagesevenattwentymiles’distancelearnedallitdidandsuffered，fearedorhoped。Itdidnothopegreatly，therustichabitofmindtendingtowardsadiscouragedoutlook，andcherishingthedramaofimpendingcalamity。AsfarasYangfordandMarlinginmatesofcottagesandfarm—
　　houseswereinclinedtothinkitprobablethatDunstanwouldbe"swepaway，"andrumoursofspreadingdeathanddisasterwerepopular。Tread，theadvancedblacksmithatStornham，havingheardinhisby—gone，betterdaysoftheGreatPlagueofLondon，wasgreatlyindemandasanarratorofilluminatinganecdotesatTheClockInn。
　　AmongthepartiesgatheredatthelargehousesMountDunstanhimselfwasmuchtalkedof。Ifhehadbeenapopularman，hemighthavebecomeasortofhero；ashewasnotpopular，hewasmerelyasubjectfordiscussion。Thefever—strickenpatientshadbeencarriedincartstotheMountandgivenbedsintheballroom，whichhadbeenmadeintoatemporaryward。NursesandsupplieshadbeensentforfromLondon，andtwoenergeticyoungdoctorshadtakentheplaceofoldDr。Fenwick，whohadbeenfrightenedandoverworkedintoanattackofbronchitiswhichconfinedhimtohisbed。
　　Wherethemoneycamefrom，whichmustbespenteverydayundersuchcircumstances，itwasdifficulttosay。Tothesimplyconservativeofmind，theideaoffillingone’shousewithdirtyEastEndhoppickersinfectedwithtyphoidseemedtooradical。Surelyhecouldhavedonesomethinglessextraordinary。Wouldeverybodybeexpectedtoturntheirhousesintohospitalsincaseofvillageepidemics，nowthathehadestablishedaprecedent？Buttherewerepeoplewhoapproved，andwerewarmintheirsympathywithhim。Atthefirstdinnerpartywherethematterwasmadethesubjectofargument，thebeautifulMissVanderpoel，whowaspresent，listenedsilentlytothetalkwithsuchbrillianteyesthatLordDunholm，whowasinanelderlywayherstaunchadmirer，spoketoheracrossthetable：
　　"TelluswhatYOUthinkofit，MissVanderpoel，"hesuggested。
　　Shedidnothesitateatall。
　　"Ilikeit，"sheanswered，inherclear，well—heardvoice。
　　"IlikeitbetterthananythingIhaveeverheard。"
　　"SodoI，"saidoldLadyAlanbyshortly。"Ishouldneverhavedoneitmyself——butIlikeitjustasyoudo。"
　　"Iknewyouwould，LadyAlanby，"saidthegirl。"Andyou，too，LordDunholm。"
　　"IlikeitsomuchthatIshallwriteandaskifIcannotbeofassistance，"LordDunholmanswered。
　　Bettywasgladtohearthis。Onlyquicknessofthoughtpreventedherfromtheerrorofsaying，"Thankyou，"asifthematterwerepersonaltoherself。IfMountDunstanwasrestiveundertheobviousnessofthefactthathelpwassosorelyneeded，hemightfeellesssoifherofferwasonlyoneamongothers。
　　"Itseemsratherthedutyoftheneighbourhoodtoshowsomeinterest，"putinLadyAlanby。"Ishallwritetohimmyself。HeisevidentlyofaneworderofMountDunstan。
　　It’stobehopedhewon’ttakethefeverhimself，anddieofitHeoughttomarrysomehandsome，well—behavedgirl，andre—
　　foundthefamily。"
　　NigelAnstruthersspokefromhissideofthetable，leaningslightlyforward。
　　"Hewon’tifhedoesnottakebettercareofhimself。
　　Hepassedmeontheroadtwodaysago，ridinglikealunatic。
　　Helooksfrightfullyill——yellowanddrawnandlined。Hehasnotlivedthelifetopreparehimforsettlingdowntoafightwithtyphoidfever。Hewouldbedoneforifhecaughttheinfection。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidLordDunholm，withquietdecision。"Unprejudicedinquiryprovesthathislifehasbeenentirelyrespectable。AsLadyAlanbysays，heseemstobeofaneworderofMountDunstan。"
　　"Nodoubtyouareright，"saidSirNigelsuavely。"Helookedill，notwithstanding。"
　　"Astolookingill，"remarkedLadyAlanbytoLordDunholm，whosatnearher，"thatmanlooksasifhewasgoingtopiecesprettyrapidlyhimself，andunprejudicedinquirywouldnotprovethathispasthadnothingtodowithit。"
　　Bettywonderedifherbrother—in—lawwerelying。Itwasgenerallysafesttoarguethathewas。ButthefeverburnedhighatMountDunstan，andsheknewbyinstinctwhatitsownerwasgivingofthestrengthofhisbodyandbrain。A
　　young，unmarriedwomancannotgoabout，however，makinganxiousinquiriesconcerningthewelfareofamanwhohasmadenoadvancetowardsher。Shemustwaitforthechancewhichbringsnews……
　　Thefever，havingill—caredforandhabituallyillfedbodiestoworkupon，wroughtfiercely，despitetheenergyofthetwoyoungdoctorsandthetrainednurses。Thereweremanydarkhoursintheballroomward，hoursfilledwithgroansandwildravings。ThefloatingTerpsichoreangoddessesupontheloftyceilinggazeddownwithwonderingeyesathaggardfacesandpluckinghandswhichsometimes，behindthescreendrawnroundtheirbeds，ceasedtolookfeverish，andgrewpalerandstiller，untiltheymovednomore。But，atleast，nonehaddiedthroughwantofshelterandcare。ThesuppliesneededcamefromLondoneachday。LordDunholmhadsentagenerouschequetotheaidofthesufferers，andso，also，hadoldLadyAlanby，butMissVanderpoel，consultingmedicalauthoritiesandhospitals，learnedexactlywhatwasrequired，andnecessitieswereforwardeddailyintheirmosteasilyutilisableform。
　　"Yougenerouslytoldmetoaskyouforanythingwefoundwerequired，"Mr。Penzancewrotetoherinhisnoteofthanks。
　　"Mydearandkindyounglady，youleavenothingtoaskfor。
　　Ourdoctors，whoareyoungandenthusiastic，arefilledwithdelightinthecompletenessoftheresourcesplacedintheirhands。"
　　Shehad，infact，gonetoLondontoconsultaneminentphysician，whowasanauthorityofworld—widereputation。
　　LiketheheadofthelegalfirmofTownlinson&Sheppard，hehadexperiencedanewsensationinthevisitpaidhimbyanindubitablymodernyoungbeauty，whowastednoword，andwhoseeyes，whileheansweredheramazinglyclearquestions，wereasintelligentlyintentasthoseofanardentandseriousyoungmedicalstudent。Whatasurgicalnurseshewouldhavemade！Itseemedalmostapitythatsheevidentlybelongedtoaclassthemembersofwhicharerichenoughtoundertakethechargeofentireepidemics，butwhodonotusuallygivethemselvestosuchwork，especiallywhentheyareyoungandastonishinginthematteroflooks。
　　Inadditiontotheworktheydidintheballroomward，MountDunstanandthevicarfoundmuchtodoamongthevillagers。Ignoranceandalarmcombinedtocreatedangers，evenwheretheymightnothavebeenfeared。Dailyinstructionandinspectionofthecottagesandtheirinmateswasrequired。Theknowledgethattheywereundercontrolandsupervisionwasasupporttothefrightenedpeopleandpreventedtheirlapsingintocarelesshabits。Also，therebegantodevelopamongthemasecretdependenceupon，anddesiretoplease"hislordship，"astheexistingcircumstancesdrewhimnearertothem，andunconsciouslytheywereattractedanddominatedbyhisstrength。Thestrongmancarrieshispowerwithhim，and，whenMountDunstanenteredacottageandtalkedtoitsinmates，theanxiouswifeorsurlilydepressedhusbandwasconsciousoffeelingacertainsenseofsecurity。
　　Ithadbeenaqueerenoughthing，thishehaddone——bundlingtheinfectedhoppersoutoftheirleakinghutsandcarryingthemuptotheMountitselfforshelterandcare。Atthemost，gentlefolkgenerallygavesouporblanketsorhospitaltickets，andlefttheresttoluck，but，"gentry—way"ornot，amanwhodidathinglikethatwouldbelikelytodootherthings，iftheywereneeded，andgavefolkafeelingofbeingsaferthanordinarysoupandblanketsandhospitalticketscouldmakethem。
　　But"wheredidthemoneycomefrom？"wasaskedduringthefirstdays。Bedsanddoctors，nursesandmedicine，finebrandyandunlimitedfowlsforbrothdidnotcomeupfromLondonwithoutbeingpaidfor。Poundsandpoundsadaymustbepaidouttogetthethingsthatweredelivered"regular"inhampersandboxes。Thewomentalkedtooneanotherovertheirgardenpalings，themenarguedtogetherovertheirbeeratthepublichouse。Washerunningintomoredebt？
　　ButeventhevillageknewthatMountDunstancredithadbeenexhaustedlongago，andtherehadbeennomoneyattheMountwithinthememoryofman，sotospeak。
　　Onemorningthematronwiththesharptemperfoundoutthetruth，thoughtheoutburstofgratitudetoMountDunstanwhichresultedinherenlightenment，wasentirelyspontaneousandwithoutintention。HerdoubtofhisMountDunstanbloodhadgrownintoasturdylikingevenforhisshortspeechandhisoftendrawn—downbrows。
　　"We’vegotmoretothankyourlordshipforthancommonhelp，"shesaid。"GodAlmightyknowswherewe’dallha’
　　beenbutforwhatyou’vedone。Thosepoorsoulsyou’venursedandfed————"
　　"I’venotdoneit，"hebrokeinpromptly。"You’remistaken；Icouldnothavedoneit。HowcouldI？"
　　"Well，"exclaimedthematronfrankly，"weWASwonderingwherethingscamefrom。"
　　"Youmightwellwonder。HaveanyofyouseenLadyAnstruthers’sister，MissVanderpoel，ridethroughthevillage？
　　Sheusedsometimestoridethisway。Ifyousawheryouwillrememberit。’
　　"The’Mericanyounglady！"inejaculatorydelight。"Myword，yes！Afineyoungwomanwithblackhair？Thatrich，theysay，asmillionswon’tcoverit。"
　　"Theywon’t，"grimly。"LordDunholmandLadyAlanbyofDolekindlysentchequestohelpus，buttheAmericanyoungladywasfirstonthefield。Shesentbothdoctorsandnurses，andhassupplieduswithfoodandmedicineeveryday。
　　Asyousay，Mrs。Brown，GodAlmightyknowswhatwouldhavebecomeofus，butforwhatshehasdone。"
　　Mrs。Brownhadlistenedwithratheropenmouth。Shecaughtherbreathheartily，asasortofapprovingexclamation。
　　"Godblessher！"shebrokeout。"Girlsisn’tgenerallylikethat。Theirheadsistoofulloffinery。Godblessher，’Mericanorno’Merican！That’swhatIsay。"
　　MountDunstan’sred—browneyeslookedasifshehadpleasedhim。
　　"That’swhatIsay，too，"heanswered。"Godblessher！"
　　Therewasnotadaywhichpassedinwhichhedidnotinvoluntarilysaythewordstohimselfagainandagain。Shehadbeenwrongwhenshehadsaidinhermusingsthattheywereasfarapartasifworldsrolledbetweenthem。
　　Somethingstrongerthansightorspeechdrewthemtogether。
　　Thethreadwhichwoveitselfthroughhisthoughtsgrewstrongerandstronger。Thefirstdayhergiftsarrivedandhewalkedabouttheballroomwarddirectingtheplacingofhospitalcotsandhospitalaidsandcomforts，thespiritofherthoughtandintelligence，theindividualityandclevernessofallhermethods，broughthersovividlybeforehimthatitwasalmostasifshewalkedbyhisside，asiftheyspoketogether，asifshesaid，"Ihavetriedtothinkofeverything。Iwantyoutomissnothing。HaveIhelpedyou？Tellmeifthereisanythingmore。"Thethingwhichmovedandstirredhimwashisknowledgethatwhenhehadthoughtofhershehadalsobeenthinkingofhim，orofwhatdeeplyconcernedhim。Whenhehadsaidtohimself，tossingonhispillow，"WhatwouldsheDO？"shehadbeenplanninginsuchawayasansweredhisquestion。Eachmorning，whentheday’ssuppliesarrived，itwasasifhehadreceivedamessagefromher。
　　Asthepeopleinthecottagesfeltthepowerofhistemperamentanddependeduponhim，so，also，didthepatientsintheballroomward。Thefeelinghadexistedfromtheoutsetandincreaseddaily。Thedoctorsandnursestoldoneanotherthathispassingthroughtheroomwasliketheadministeringofatonic。Patientswhowereweakandmakingnoeffort，werelifteduponthestrongwaveofhiswillandcarriedonwardtowardstheshoreofgreatercourageandstrength。
　　YoungDoctorThwaitemethimwhenhecameinonemorning，andspokeinalowvoice：
　　"Thereisayoungmanbehindthescreentherewhoisverylow，"hesaid。"Hehadaninternalhaemorrhagetowardsmorning，andhaslosthispluck。Hehasawifeandthreechildren。Wehavebeendoingourbestforhimwithhot—
　　waterbottlesandstimulants，buthehasnotthecouragetohelpus。Youhaveanextraordinaryeffectonthemall，LordMountDunstan。Whentheyaredepressed，theyalwaysaskwhenyouarecomingin，andthisman——Patton，hisnameis——
　　hasaskedforyouseveraltimes。Uponmyword，Ibelieveyoumightsethimgoingagain。"
　　MountDunstanwalkedtothebed，and，goingbehindthescreen，stoodlookingdownattheyoungfellowlyingbreathingpantingly。Hiseyeswereclosedashelaboured，andhispinchedwhitenostrilsdrewthemselvesinandpuffedoutateachbreath。Anurseontheothersideofthecothadjustsurroundedhimwithfreshhot—waterbottles。
　　Suddenlythesunkeneyelidsflewopen，andtheeyesmetMountDunstan’sinimploringanxiousness。