‘I’m a’most doubtful about wakin’ her,’ said her mother. ‘Theer’s no doubt as Samson gi’en her a shock, an’ sleep’s good for her. But her’s had welly fifteen hours of it now, if she’s been asleep all the tima Julia, my love,’ she said softly, almost in the sleeper’s ear. ‘My sakes, how pale her is. Jenny! come here!’ They both bent above her. Mrs. Rusker’s heart was beating like a muffled drum, and seemed, to her own ears, to fill the house with its pulsation. ‘Julia!’ said Mrs. Mountain again, in a louder voice, and shook the girl with a tremulous hand, ‘Julia!’ The white eyelids did not even stir. ‘My blessid! Julia! Don’t skeer a body i’ this way!’ She shook the girl again. ‘Jenny! whativer’s come to the silly wench?’ Mrs. Jenny was more frightened, and with better reason, than her companion. Julia’s marble pallor, and the awful stillness of her form--the keenest glance could not detect a quiver in the face or a heave of the bosom--almost stilled that exigent pulse within her own breast with a sudden anguish of despair. ‘Oh, Jenny, she’s a-dyin’!’ Mrs. Mountain’s scream rang through the house, and startled every soul within it, except that marble figure on the bed. Hurried steps came up the stairs, the heavy tread of a man, the light patter of women’s feet, and the room filled as if by magic. ‘Fetch a doctor,’ screamed Mrs. Jenny; ‘Julia’s a-dyin’!’ Samson Mountain stood for one moment with his hands aloft and his eyes glaring at his daughter. Then he dropped with a sobbing groan into a chair, with his head in his hands. There was a general scream from the women. One, more serviceable than the rest, called from the window to a gaping yokel below in the yard, and bade him ride for help. Her face and voice froze him for a moment, but he caught the words ‘Miss Julia,’ and two minutes after he was astride a broad-backed plough-horse, making for the distant village. Samson Mountain sat with his face hidden and spoke no word; at the sight of him his wife’s face had turned to sudden rage, and she stood over him like a ruffled hen, and clacked commination of masculine imbecility, intermixed with wild plaints for her child.