He rang the bell, and waited with a throbbing heart, for the appearance of the man he earnestly desired, and yet dreaded to; see. When he heard his step upon the stairs, his cheek began to burn, and he even trembled as a criminal might be supposed to tremble in the presence of his judge. For a moment he thought only of his unpaid bill, in the next of his suffering wife. The physician entered. Theodore hesitated, and spoke in a low, timid voice, as he requested a call that night upon his wife. "Is Mrs. Wilmer very ill?" inquired the physician, in a kind voice. "I fear seriously so, sir." "How long has she been sick?" "It has been several weeks since she complained of a pain in her side; and all that time she has been troubled with a hard cough. For the last few days she has hardly been able to move about, and to-night she is in a high fever, and finds great difficulty in breathing." "Then she must be attended to, at once. Why did you not call before, Mr. Wilmer? Such delays, you know, are very dangerous." "I do--I do--but"--Wilmer hesitated, and looked troubled and confused. "But what, Mr. Wilmer?" urged the physician in the kindest manner. "I--I--I have not been able to pay your last bill, much as I have desired it. My salary is small, and I find it very difficult to get along." "Still, my dear sir, health and life are of great value. And besides, if you had called in a physician at the earliest stage of Mrs. Wilmer's illness, you might have saved much expense, as well as spared her much suffering. But cheer up, sir; bright sunshine always succeeds the cloud and the storm. I shall be glad to have my bill when it is convenient, and not before. Don't let it cause you an uneasy moment." The kind manner of the physicians soothed his feelings, and the prompt visit, and prompt relief given softened the stern anguish of his troubled spirit. The bruised reed is never broken. When the stricken heart is tried, it is never beyond the point of endurance.