"Now, Rose, close all the shutters; darken the room and sit beside the head of my bed. Don't speak until you are spoken to; don't move; don't even read; but sit still, silent, attentive, while I try to rest." Rose obeyed all his orders, and then sat like a dead woman, back in the resting chair beside him. She had noted how weak and husky his voice had been in giving his instructions to his "womankind," with what pain and effort he had spoken, while his strong will bore him through the interview, which, short as it was, had left him prostrate and exhausted. Rose wished to offer him the cordial the doctor had left, but he had ordered her not to move or speak until she was spoken to, and Rose dared not disobey. She did not know what might be the result of her passive obedience to him, nor, to tell the truth, did she very much care. Rose was weary of life! Meanwhile, Cora and Violet went down stairs together. At six o'clock the doctor came, and made anxious inquiries into the state of the injured man; but Cora could only report that he seemed to have passed a quiet day, watched by his wife, but unapproached by any other member of his family, all of whom he had forbidden to come near him unless called. "A very wise provision, my dear Mrs. Rothsay. I will go up now and see him," said Dr. Cummins. A few minutes later Rose came down and entered the parlor, looking very faint and white except for two small, deep crimson spots on the cheeks. "Here, Rose, take this chair," said Violet, vacating the most comfortable seat in the room, on which she had sat all the afternoon. The woman dropped into it, too weak and weary to stand upon ceremony. "How did you leave grandfather?" "I hardly know; but doing well, I should think, for he has been dozing all day, only waking up to ask for iced beef tea, or milk punch, and then, when he had drank one or the other, going to sleep again. I have been fanning him all the time except when I have been feeding him." While Rose was sipping some tea which had been promptly brought to her, the doctor came in and reported Mr. Rockharrt as doing extremely well. "You will stay to dinner with us, Dr. Cummins," said Rose. "Thank you, my dear lady, but I cannot. I shall just wait to see Mr. Fabian Rockharrt and give my report to him in all its details, as I promised, and then hurry home and go to bed. I have had no sleep for the last twenty-four--no, bless my soul! not for the last thirty-six hours!" replied the physician. He had scarcely ceased to speak when Mr. Fabian entered the room. "Oh! home so soon!" exclaimed Violet, starting up to meet him. "Yes; how is the father?" "There is the doctor; ask him." "Ah, Dr. Cummins! Good afternoon? How is your patient?" "Come with me into the library, Mr. Fabian, and I will give you a full report." "Where is Clarence?" inquired Fabian. "Up stairs somewhere. He did not come to luncheon," replied Cora.