'I was about to ask you that question Mr. Carey,' was his reply. 'All that I know at present is that she is in a high state of fever, that her blood is thin and poor, and that she is as weak as a human being dare be who requires strength to battle successfully with disease. It appears to me that she must have been suffering for some time, for a very long time probably--but I am in the dark as to that--and that she has at length given way. If you put upon a beam a pressure greater than it can bear, the beam must break.' 'But I do not think my mother has worked too hard, sir.' The mind has acted upon the body. Hard physical work itself seldom, if ever, kills. In the case of this beam----you follow me?' 'Yes sir.' 'In the case of this beam, there have been secret inroads upon its power of resistance, and the wood has rotted. I have seen stout planks cut through, and colonies of little insects bared to the light which have been steadily and surely eating away its strength. I am speaking plainly, because I think it is the best course in all these cases, and when I am speaking to a sensible man.' 'Thank you, sir; I should prefer to hear the truth, terrible though it be.' 'Outwardly, these planks seem capable of bearing any pressure, but when a great trial comes, they must give way. There are thousands and thousands of human beings walking about, in seemingly good health, in precisely the same condition. Has your mother suffered any great trouble?' 'A great trouble has come upon us within the last few hours.' 'An unexpected trouble?' 'Totally unexpected, sir.' 'For which you were quite unprepared?' 'Quite, sir.' 'That may be the immediate, but is not the direct, cause of your mother's illness. She has been enduring a long strain, as I have said, and has at length broken down under it.' By this time we were in his shop, and he was preparing the medicine. 'You look ill yourself. Let me feel your pulse.' He looked me steadily in the face. 'You are your mother's only child, I believe. Miss West led me to infer as much.' 'She was right, sir.' 'Well, then,' he said, giving me a rough and kindly shake, 'your mother's ultimate recovery may depend--I only say _may_--upon you. Think of that, and don't be falling ill yourself.' 'I'll try not to,' I murmured, for I felt sick and faint.