Dawn hurried down, with white face and horrified eyes, and saw that it was the old family doctor, and that he held her step-mother in his arms. A sudden pang of remorse went through her heart that she had been away from the sick one so long, yet how could she have helped it? Was Mrs. Van Rensselaer perhaps trying to find her, or was she seeking aid, and had fallen by the way? "Oh, why did she get up!" she exclaimed regretfully. "I came just as soon as I could get the water hot!" Then she caught hold of the heavy form of the unconscious woman and helped with all her young strength to lift and drag her up to her room again. "She might have been out of her head, child," said the doctor kindly, as if in answer to her exclamation. He was searching in his medicine case for a certain bottle as he spoke. His breath was coming in short, quick gasps from the exertion of carrying the sick woman upstairs, and the perspiration stood in great beads on his forehead. His face looked old and haggard, and his voice was that of one who had seen much recent sorrow. He walked rapidly asking a few keen questions and giving brief directions. He nodded approvingly at the kettle of hot water, sent Dawn for one or two articles he needed, then when he had done all he could, and the sick woman was breathing more naturally, he turned and looked at Dawn. She had told him in a few words how she had found the house when she arrived, and the little she had done. He looked her through with his kind tired eyes, noted the sweet, sad face, the dark circles under her eyes, the pallor of the thin cheeks, and shook his head doubtfully. "You’re young for this sort of thing," he said gruffly. "It’s a hard case, and her only hope is good nursing. I’m afraid you’re not equal to it. You’ll break down yourself." "Oh, no, I’m quite strong," said Dawn, bravely trying to smile. "Well, I don’t know how it can be helped," he mused. "I don’t know of a single person I can get to help you. It may be Patience Howe could come if she can get away from the Pettibones. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll stop and send a line to Mrs. Van Rensselaer’s sister. She’ll likely come down by to-morrow. You know she was here when your father died. Do you think you could get along to-night alone in case I can’t get any one? I’ll try to get back here before dark if I can and bring some one to stay with you. I haven’t had a wink of sleep for forty-eight hours except what I caught on the road. I’ll get back as soon as I can." Dawn assured him she would do her best, though her heart quaked within her at thought of staying alone with the death-like sleeper upon the bed. The doctor gave a few directions and cautions, and hurried away.