"And the willingness to put his own life in jeopardy to save yours," added the practical Sybil. "Did you do that?" eagerly asked Helen, seizing the young man's hand. "What would my life have been worth, if the dog had overtaken you?" he whispered, leaning toward her. She started from him, the color mounting to her brow, and putting her arm within Sybil's said: "Will you please to come home with me?" "That is my intention. You must go to bed and have some boneset tea. I don't like your looks, one moment white as a sheet, the next red as fire. Like as not, the shock will give you a fever." "Shall I send the doctor to Woodbine Cottage?" inquired Frederic, anxiously. "Oh, no!" replied Helen, with a weary smile. "I only need rest. If I can forget those dreadful sounds, I shall be well." She held out her hand to the young clergyman, though she had not courage to look him in the face, and receiving an additional charge from the good pastor to be careful of herself, turned in the direction of her home. Thanks to Sybil's boneset tea which the poor victim, to please her friend, drank clear and strong, or perhaps to the pleasant emotions stirred in her heart, the next day found our heroine quite as well as if no dreadful danger had threatened her life. She arose as early as usual, and for a while gave herself up to receive the petting of old nurse, who was greatly excited by the accident. Then she sat down to breakfast, smiling and blushing to herself, lingering over her chocolate, muffins and eggs, until nurse wondered whether the fright had not been too much for her. "He will certainly be here this morning," Helen said to herself, "but what can I say to thank him?" She was still at the table, when she heard a ring at the door-boll. Her heart fluttered so dreadfully, she could scarcely stand; and she flew to the opposite door in order to escape to her chamber. "My wife wouldn't give me any rest till I'd been to see how Miss was, after the fright," said a loud, good-natured voice, and the owner of it walked in at the back door, just in time to meet Helen. "I shot the mad dog," he said, in explanation, "and I would have shot him with a better will, if I'd known 'twas Mr. Edmond's daughter he was running after." Helen shook the man's hand in a cordial manner, and then drew a chair forward for him to sit down. "I allus set store by Parson Knowles and his family," the visitor went on, "but I never know what a smart one that son o' his'n was, till I see him start off to overtake you. 'Twas a miracle, and nothing else, how he got the start of us, and threw you over the wall. You see I couldn't fire afore, I was afraid of shooting you. If he's as smart at writing sermons as he is at running, I'll promise to be one of his most reg'lar hearers." "I shall have reason to thank you and him as long as I live," faltered Helen, her voice trembling. "Of all horrible diseases, I think hydrophobia is most to be dreaded."