“You’re all right again—your eyes are all right,” he said. Trood turned his back on Kellock, and everybody was at work as usual. He made a tremendous effort with himself, called up his utmost resolution, smiled and nodded to Spry, who was whistling, gripped his deckle to the mould, and then strove to think of something else, pursue his business in the usual mechanical fashion, and let his unconscious but highly trained energies pursue their road. But it was not to be. Some link had strained, if not broken, in the complexus of brain and nerve and muscle. Perfect obedience was lacking; a rebel had crept into the organism. For once, the man’s expressionless face was alive with expression; for once his steady and monotonous voice vibrated. “It’s all up,” he said to Harold Spry. Then he put down the mould. Trood was beside him in an instant, and Knox came also. Elsewhere those who had no love for Kellock talked under their breath together. Others, who came and went, took the news. Trood made the vatman try again; but only once. He saw in a moment that the breakdown could not be bluffed; the fault in the machine was too deep. Jordan put on his coat, and Trood arranged to drive him to Totnes presently to see a doctor. The young man was calm, but his will power appeared suspended. He looked into the faces of his companions for any ray of comfort; and the fact that he could do so was testimony to his collapse. He went back to “The Waterman’s Arms” presently; and through the Mill like lightning flashed the news that Kellock had lost his stroke. CHAPTER XXVII THE DOCTOR As soon as Mrs. Trivett heard the bad news she stopped work, explained to her second in command the gravity of the situation, and hastened home as fast as she could go to Medora. Now or never might her daughter show what she was worth, and she felt that her girl’s place should be beside the sufferer. Duty and love alike prompted in that direction; indeed, Medora herself appeared to view the disaster with her mother’s eyes. “Good Lord! Lost his stroke! Poor man,” she cried. “I must go to him. Is he ill? Have you seen him? What was the cause of it? Does he say what he’s going to do about it?” “I haven’t seen him. He’s gone back to the inn, and Mr. Trood takes him into Totnes presently to the doctor. And it’s your place to go along with them in my opinion.” Medora’s mind moved swiftly. She knew that Kellock was to have seen Ned Dingle on the previous evening, and eagerly she awaited information of what had happened at that meeting. Jordan intended to have come over to Priory Farm after working hours; but now she could hear even sooner than she expected. “I shan’t leave him if he’s very bad,” said Medora.