"And there's Dr Slumpy just this moment gone without a word to comfort one,--not even to say about when it will be. I suppose you'll want your dinner before you go up to see him. As for us we've had no dinners, or anything regular; but, of course, you must be waited on." Miss Mackenzie simply took off her bonnet and shawl, and declared herself ready to go upstairs as soon as her brother would be ready to see her. "It's fret about money has done it all, Margaret," said the wife. "Since the day that Walter's shocking will was read, he's never been himself for an hour. Of course he wouldn't show it to you; but he never has." Margaret turned short round upon her sister-in-law on the stairs. "Sarah," said she, and then she stopped herself. "Never mind; it is natural, no doubt, you should feel it; but there are times and places when one's feelings should be kept under control." "That's mighty fine," said Mrs Mackenzie; "but, however, if you'll wait here, I'll go up to him." In a few minutes more Miss Mackenzie was standing by her brother's bedside, holding his hand in hers. "I knew you would come, Margaret," he said. "Of course I should come; who doubted it? But never mind that, for here I am." "I only told her that we expected her by the earlier train," said Mrs Tom. "Never mind the train as long as she's here," said Tom. "You've heard how it is with me, Margaret?" Then Margaret buried her face in the bed-clothes and wept, and Mrs Tom, weeping also, hid herself behind the curtains. There was nothing said then about money or the troubles of the business, and after a while the two women went down to tea. In the dining-room they found Mr Rubb, who seemed to be quite at home in the house. Cold meat was brought up for Margaret's dinner, and they all sat down to one of those sad sick-house meals which he or she who has not known must have been lucky indeed. To Margaret it was nothing new. All the life that she remembered, except the last year, had been spent in nursing her other brother; and now to be employed about the bed-side of a sufferer was as natural to her as the air she breathed. "I will sit with him to-night, Sarah, if you will let me," she said; and Sarah assented. It was still daylight when she found herself at her post. Mrs Mackenzie had just left the room to go down among the children, saying that she would return again before she left him for the night. To this the invalid remonstrated, begging his wife to go to bed. "She has not had her clothes off for the last week," said the husband. "It don't matter about my clothes," said Mrs Tom, still weeping. She was always crying when in the sick room, and always scolding when out of it; thus complying with the two different requisitions of her nature. The matter, however, was settled by an assurance on her part that she would go to bed, so that she might be stirring early.