"When he came Emma undertook to take him to the laboratory; I did not dare. I sat on the stairs and listened, shaking in every limb. What was going on in that room? What was my father saying? What was the doctor deciding? When the door opened at last I was almost unconscious. The sound of the doctor's voice, always loud, struck upon my ears like thunder, but I could not distinguish his words. Not till he had come half-way down the stairs did I begin to understand them, and then I heard: "'A case of overwork! He will be better in a day or two. Send for me if he seems any worse.' "Overwork! that clay-white cheek! those dry and burning lips! the eyes hollowed out as if death were already making a skeleton of him! I seized the doctor's hand as he went by. "'Are you sure that is all?' I cried. "He gave me a pompous stare. 'I do not often repeat myself,' said he, and went haughtily out without another word. "Emma, standing at the top of the stairs, came down as the door closed behind him. "'Father was not so angry as I feared he would be. He smiled at the doctor and seemed glad to see him. He even roused himself up to talk, and for a few minutes did not look so ill as he really is.' "'Did the doctor leave medicine?' I asked. "'Oh, yes, plenty; powder and pills.' "'Where is it?' "'On father's desk. He says he will take it regularly. He would not let me give it to him.' "I reeled; everything seemed turning round with me. "'Watch him,' I cried, 'watch----' and could say no more. Unconsciousness had come to relieve me. "It was dark when I came to myself. I was lying on my own bed, and by the dim light burning on a small table near by I saw the form of Doris bending over me. Starting up, I caught her by the arm. "'What is going on?' I cried. "Rude noises were in the house. A sound of breaking glass. "'It comes from the laboratory,' she exclaimed, and rushed from the room. "I rose and had barely strength enough to follow her. When we reached the laboratory door Emma was already there. A light was burning at one end of the long and dismal room, and amid the weird shadows that it cast we saw our father in a loose gown he often wore when at work, standing over his table with lifted fist. It was bleeding; he had just brought it down upon a favorite collection of tubes. "'Ah!' he cried, tottering and seizing the table to steady himself; 'you have come to see the end of my famous discovery. Here it is; look!' And his fist came down again upon a jar containing the work of months. "The smash that followed seemed to echo in my brain. I rushed forward, but was stopped by his look. "'Another result of your obduracy,' he cried, and sank back fainting upon the hard floor. "I let Emma and Doris lift him. What place had I at his side? "'Shall I go for the doctor again?' inquired Doris as she came to my room a half-hour later. "'Does he seem worse?' I asked.