He walked on up the street. Doors and windows were closed; scarcely any one seemed astir. "They're sleeping late," he thought "Well who can blame them? they're either sick themselves or worn out taking care of the sick." He came first to the hotel. Mrs. Prior was very busy getting breakfast, but stepped to the door to hear his message. "I'm dreadful sorry;" she said, "and I'll call round, tell your mother, just as soon as I can; but I've half a dozen boarders down with the fever, and only one girl; the rest's all gone off to 'tend to their own folks; for the fever's bad all round in the country; and between them and the town folks the doctors is goin' night and day." "I don't see how you can come at all then, Mrs. Prior," Rupert said, "I should think your hands must be more than full here at home." "I'll come if I can, you may depend," she answered, "for I think a sight of your mother." The boy sighed heavily as he turned and went on his way. How much of the brightness seemed to have gone out of life just then. Dr. Grange's house was a few steps further on. An old lady, the doctor's mother, answered his knock. "The doctor is in bed and asleep just now," she said. "He has had very little rest for the last three weeks, was up all night out in the country, and came home with a heavy chill. And the rest of the family are all down with the fever except myself and little five year old Ellen." "What are we coming to!" exclaimed the lad. "I don't know," she answered: "but God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble!'" "I do not know what to do," said Rupert, looking sadly perplexed and anxious; "mother says my father and Cyril are both very ill." "I will tell the doctor when he wakes, and perhaps he will be able to go down. It would hardly be worth while to send you for another, for they're all equally busy." "Thank you," he said, "we would not like to have to try another," and bidding her good morning, he went on his way to the Squire's. Mrs. Chetwood put on her bonnet at once and went with him. "Claudina would come too," she said, "but two of the boys are sick, and I'm afraid she is taking the fever herself." "It seems as if everybody is taking it," said Rupert. "Mrs. Chetwood, is it often so sickly here?" "Never was known to be quite so bad before," she answered; "they say the oldest inhabitant doesn't remember such a time. Do you notice how quiet and empty the streets are?" "Yes, ma'am; people seem to be very late in getting up. The stores are all shut up still." "There's no business doing at all," she returned, "and people are not up because they're ill; too ill, most of them, to leave their beds. "There are not many houses in town where more than one or two are able to crawl about to help themselves or wait on the sick.