"Two weeks later my father called me into his presence. I went in fear and trembling. He was standing by his desk in the laboratory, and I could not repress a start of surprise when I saw the change which had taken place in him. But I said nothing, only stood near the doorway and waited for what he had to say. "'Look at me,' he commanded. 'I am standing to-day; to-morrow I shall be sitting. I wish you to watch your work; now go.' "I turned, so shaken by his look and terrible wanness that I could hardly stand. But at the door I paused and cried in irrepressible terror: "'You are ill; let me send for a doctor. I cannot see you dying thus before my eyes.' "'You cannot?' With what a grim chuckle he uttered the words. 'We will see what you can bear.' Then as my eyes opened in terror, and I seemed about to flee, he cried, 'No doctor, do you hear? I will see none. And mark me, no talking about what goes on in this room, if you do not wish my curse.' "Aghast, I rushed from that unhallowed door. What did his words mean? What was his purpose? Upon what precipice of horror was I stumbling? "The next day he summoned me again. I felt too weak to go, but I dared not disobey. I opened his door with a shaking hand, and found him sitting, as he had promised, in an old arm-chair that had been his mother's. "'Do I look any better?' he asked. "I shook my head. He was evidently much worse. "'The poison of disobedience works slowly, but it works sure,' he cried. "I threw up my arms with a shriek. "He seemed to love the sound. "'You do not enjoy the fruits of your actions,' said he. 'You love your old father so dearly.' "I held out my hands; I entreated; I implored. "'Do not--do not look on me like this. Some dreadful thought is in your mind--some dreadful revenge. Do not cherish it; do not make my already ruined life a worse torture to me. Let me have help, let me send for a doctor----' "But his sternly lifted finger was already pointing at the door. "'You have stayed too long,' he muttered. 'Next time you will barely look in, and leave without a word.' "I crouched, he cowed me so, and then fled, this time to find Emma, Doris, some one. "They were both huddled in the hall below. They had heard our voices and were terrified at the sound. "'Don't you think he is very ill?' asked Emma. 'Don't you think we ought to have the doctor come, in spite of his commands to the contrary?' "'Yes,' I gasped, 'and quickly, or we will feel like murderers.' "'Dr. Dudgeon is a big know-nothing,' cried Doris. "'But he is a doctor,' I said. And Doris went for him at once.