Go at once,
Vesta; don't lose a moment. Put on your bonnet and shawl, and Doctor
will drive you over to the Corners. The stage goes by in an hour's
time, and you have none too long to reach it."
Dr. Brown seemed to wake suddenly from the distressful dream in which
he had been plunged. "Yes, I will drive you over to the stage, Vesta,"
he said. "God help me! it is all I can do. I have an operation to
perform at noon. It is a case of life and death, and I have no right
to leave it. The man's whole life is not worth one hour of Melody's,"
he added with some bitterness; "but that makes no difference, I
suppose. I have no choice in the matter. Girls!" he cried, "you know
well enough that if it were my own life, I would throw it down the
well to give the child an hour's pleasure, let alone saving her from
misery,--and perhaps from death!" he added to himself; for only he and
the famous physician who had examined Melody at his instance knew that
under all the joy and vigor of the child's simple, healthy life lay
dormant a trouble of the heart, which would make any life of
excitement or fatigue fatal to her in short space, though she might
live in quiet many happy years. Yes, one other person knew this,--his
friend Dr.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89