"To-night," replied the young mother, with a failing voice, "feeling myself in pain I tried to rise to ring for you. I had not the strength, I was ill, and just this moment I dragged myself to the chimney to call you, and I--" The young woman did not finish; her teeth clashed together, her head fell back, and she fainted. Marguerite, frightened at the responsibility resting on her, and losing her presence of mind entirely, cried, as she ran to Frederick's chamber: "Monsieur, monsieur! get up! madame is very ill." Then, returning to Marie, she cried, kneeling down by the bed: "My God! what must I do, what must I do?" At the end of a few moments Frederick, having put on his dressing-gown, came out of his chamber. Imagine his agony at the sight of his mother,--pale, inanimate, and from time to time writhing under a convulsive chill. "Mother," cried Frederick, kneeling in despair by Marie's pillow. "Mother, answer me, what is the matter?" "Alas! M. Frederick," said Marguerite, sobbing, "madame is unconscious. What shall I do, my God, what shall I do?" "Marguerite," cried Frederick, "run and wake M. David." While Frederick, in unspeakable terror, remained near his mother, the servant hurried to André's chamber, where David had spent the night. The preceptor, dressing himself in haste, opened the door for Marguerite. "My God! what is the matter?" "M. David, a great trouble,--madame--" "Go on." "To-night she was taken ill and rose to ring for me; all her strength failed her; she had fallen in the middle of her chamber, where she lay a long time on the floor; when I entered and helped her to bed she was frozen." "On such a night,--it is frightful!" cried David, turning pale; "and now, how is she?" "My God! M. David, she has fainted away. Poor M. Frederick is on his knees at her pillow sobbing; he calls her, but she hears nothing. It was he who told me to run for you, because we do not know what to do, we have all lost our head." "You must tell André to hitch up and go in haste to Pont Brillant for Doctor Dufour. Run, run, Marguerite." "Alas! monsieur, that is impossible. Master left this morning at three o'clock with the horse, and André is so old that he would take I do not know how much time to go to the city." "I will go," said David, with a calmness which belied the agitation depicted in his face. "You, M. David, go to the city on foot so far this freezing night!" "In an hour," replied David, as he finished dressing himself for the journey, "Doctor Dufour will be here. Tell Frederick that to calm him. While waiting my return, you had better take some warm tea to Madame Bastien. Try to get her warm by covering her with care, and drawing her bed near the large fire which you must kindle immediately. Come, courage, Marguerite," added David, taking his hat and hastily descending the stairs; "be sure to tell Frederick Doctor Dufour will be here in an hour." * * * * *