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Julia clung sobbing to her mother； in a vain attempt to comfort her。
Sampson groaned。
〃No； no；〃 said he： 〃don't go on so； my poor soul； you did all for the best； and now we must make the best of what is done。 Hartshorn！ brandy！ and caution！ For those two assassins have tied my hands。〃
While applying these timid remedies； he inquired if the cause was known。 They told him they knew nothing； but that David had been wrecked on the coast of France； and had fallen down senseless in the street： a clerk of Mr。 Hardie's had recognised him； and brought him home： so Alfred said。
〃Then the cause is mintil；〃 said Sampson； 〃unless he got a blow on the hid in bein' wrecked。〃'
He then examined David's head carefully； and found a long scar。
〃But this is not it；〃 said he； 〃this is old。〃
Mrs。 Dodd clasped her hands； and assured him it was new to her： her David had no scar there when he left her last。
Pursuing his examination； Sampson found an open wound in his left shoulder。
He showed it them； and they were all as pale as the patient in a moment。 He then asked to see his coat； and soon discovered a corresponding puncture in it； which he examined long and narrowly。
〃It is a stabwith a one…edged knife。〃
There was a simultaneous cry of horror。
〃Don't alarm yourselves for that；〃 said Sampson； 〃it is nothing： a mere flesh…wound。 It is the vein…wound that alarms me。 This school knows nothing about the paroxysms and remissions of disease。 They have bled and cupped him for a _passing fit。_ It has passed into the cold stage； but no quicker than it would have done without stealing a drop of blood。 To…morrow； by disease's nature； he will have another hot fit in spite of their bleeding。 Then those ijjits would leech his temples； and on that paroxysm remitting by the nature of the disease； would fancy their leeches had cured it。〃
The words were the old words； but the tone and manner was so different： no shouting； no anger： all was spoken low and gently； and with a sort of sad and weary and worn…out air。
He ordered a kettle of hot water and a quantity of mustard； and made his preparations for the hot fit； as he called it； maintaining the intermittent and febrile character of all disease。
The patient rambled a good deal； but quite incoherently； and knew nobody。
But about eight o'clock in the morning he was quite quiet and apparently sleeping： so Mrs。 Dodd stole out of the room to order some coffee for Sampson and Edward。 They were nodding； worn out with watching。
Julia； whose high…strung nature could dispense with sleep on such an occasion； was on her knees praying for her father。
Suddenly there came from the bed； like a thunder…clap； two words uttered loud and furiously
〃HARDIE！ VILLAIN！〃
Up started the drowsy watchers； and rubbed their eyes。 They had heard the sound； but not the sense。
Julia rose from her knees bewildered and aghast： she had caught the strange words distinctlywords that were to haunt her night and day。
They were followed immediately by a loud groan； and the stertorous breathing recommenced； and the face was no longer pale； but flushed and turgid。 On this Sampson hurried Julia from the room； and； with Edward's help； placed David on a stool in the bath； and getting on a chair； discharged half a bucket of cold water on his head： the patient gasped： another； and David shuddered； stared wildly； and put his hand to his head； a third； and he staggered to his feet。
At this moment Mrs。 Dodd coming hastily into the room； he looked steadily at her； and said； 〃Lucy！〃
She ran to throw her arms round him； but Sampson interfered。 〃Gently！ gently！〃 said he； 〃we must have no violent emotions。〃
〃Oh； no！ I will be prudent。〃 And she stood quiet with her arms still extended； and cried for joy。
They got David to bed again； anti Sampson told Mrs。 Dodd there was no danger now from the malady； but only from the remedies。
And in fact David fell into a state of weakness and exhaustion； and kept muttering unintelligibly。
Dr。 Short called in the morning； and was invited to consult with Dr。 Sampson。 He declined。 〃Dr。 Sampson is a notorious quack： no physician of any eminence will meet him in consultation。〃
〃I regret that resolution；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd quietly； 〃as it will deprive me of the advantage of your skill。〃
Dr。 Short bowed stifly。 〃I shall be at your service； madam； when that empiric has given the patient up。〃 And he drove away。
Osmond； finding Sampson installed； took the politic line； he contrived to glide by fine gradations into the empiric's opinions； without recanting his own； which were diametrically opposed。
Sampson； before he shot back to town； asked him to provide a good reliable nurse。
He sent a young woman of iron。 She received Sampson's instructions； and assumed the command of the sick…room； and was jealous of Mrs。 Dodd and Julia； looked on them as mere rival nurses； amateurs； who； if not snubbed； might ruin the professionals。 She seemed to have forgotten in the hospitals all about the family affections and their power of turning invalids themselves into nurses。
The second night she got the patient all to herself for four hours； from eleven till two。
The ladies having consented to this arrangement its order to recruit themselves for the work they were not so mad as to intrust wholly to a hireling； nurse's feathers smoothed themselves perceptibly。
At twelve the patient was muttering and murmuring incessantly about wrecks； and money； and things： of which vain babble nurse showed her professional contempt by nodding。
At 12。30 she slept
At 1。20 she snored very loud； and woke instantly at the sound。
She took the thief out of the candle； and went like a good sentinel to look at her charge。
He was not there。
She rubbed her eyes； and held the candle over the place where he ought to bewhere； in fact； he must be； for he was far too weak to move。
She tore the bedclothes down： she beat and patted the clothes with her left hand； and the candle began to shake violently in her right。
The bed was empty。
Mrs。 Dodd was half asleep when a hurried tap came to her door： she started up in a moment and great dread fell on her； was David sinking？
〃Ma'am！ Ma'am！ Is he here？〃
〃He！ Who？〃 cried Mrs。 Dodd； bewildered。
〃Why； _him！_ He can't be far off〃
In a moment Mrs。 Dodd had opened the door； and her tongue and the nurse's seemed to dash together； so fast came the agitated words from each in turn； and crying； 〃Call my son！ Alarm the house！〃 Mrs。 Dodd darted into the sickroom。 She was out again in a moment； and up in the attics rousing the maids； while the nurse thundered at Edward's door and Julia's； and rang every bell she could get at。 The inmates were soon alarmed； and flinging on their clothes： meantime Mrs。 Dodd and the nurse scoured the house and searched every nook in it down to the very cellar： they found no David。
But they found something。
The street door ajar。
It was a dark drizzly night。
Edward took one road； Mrs。 Dodd and Elizabeth another。
They were no sooner gone； than Julia drew the nurse into a room apart and asked her eagerly if her father had said nothing。
〃Said nothing； Miss？ Why he was a…talking all th