Dr. B. came to see her, conversed with her, counted the throbbings of her pulse, and made a minute examination of her case. The conference was long; when he entered the parlor, he found Mr. Draper waiting. He received him with a smile; but there was no responsive smile on the doctor's face; it was solemn and thoughtful. Mr. Draper grew alarmed. "You do not think my wife very sick, I hope," said he. "Her cough is troublesome; but you know she has long been subject to it. Indeed, I think it is constitutional, like my own. You recommended the white mixture to her last year: it did her good." "I recommended a voyage and a warm climate," said the physician. "Yes, I remember you did; but it was impossible for me to go away then. In the spring we took that unlucky journey; however, it was of benefit to her, and if you think it necessary, I will go the same route now." "I do not," replied Dr. B. "I am glad of it; it would be particularly inconvenient to me just now to leave the city. Times are perplexing: bills come back protested--bad news from England--sudden and unlooked-for failures--no one can tell where it will end. We have been obliged to stop our works at Clyde Farm, and there are from ninety to a hundred laborers thrown out of employment. This is peculiarly vexatious to me, as they made out before to earn a living in their own _humdrum_ way, and they now accuse me of having taken the bread from their children's mouths, to promote my own speculations, though, while I employed them, I gave them enormous wages. But this, sir, is the gratitude of the world." The doctor still remained silent. It seemed as if Mr. Draper began to tremble for something dearer than money, for he grasped the hand of the physician. "You do not think my wife dangerously ill, I trust," said he. The doctor replied, in a low voice, "I fear she is." "Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Draper; "she was remarkably well when we left Clyde. But what do you prescribe? I will do any thing, every thing, say but the word. I will take her to Europe--I will go to any part of the world you recommend." The physician shook his head. "My dear doctor, you must go with us. I will indemnify you a thousand times for all losses; you can save her life; you know her constitution. When shall we go? and where? I will charter a vessel; we can be off in three days;"--and he actually took his hat. Dr. B. said impressively, "Pray be seated, and prepare yourself to hear, like a man, what you must inevitably learn. It will not answer any useful purpose to go to a milder climate; it is now too late!" "You do not mean to say," said Mr. Draper, impetuously, "that if she had gone last year she would have been restored?" "No, I do not mean to say that; but then, there would have been a chance; now, there is none." "Why did you not tell me so, sir?" said Mr. Draper, angrily.