he'll die; hurry; I killed him." She tried to be silent, but her lips moved mechanically. "Doctor, hurry; he'll--Oh, I MUSTN'T talk!" she told herself, "it takes my breath"--but still her lips moved. She began to run, heavily. "I can't talk--if--I--run--" It was then that she saw a glimmer of light and knew that she was almost in Old Chester. Very likely she would have fallen if she had not seen that far-off window just when she did. At William King's house she dropped against the door, her fingers still clinging to the bell. She was past speaking when the doctor lifted her and carried her into the office. "No; don't try to tell me what it is," he said; "I'll put Jinny into the buggy, and we'll get back in a jiffy. I understand; Hannah is worse." "Not... Hannah--" "Your father?" he said, picking up his medicine-case. "Not father; Mr.--Fenn--" As the doctor hurried out to the stable to hitch up he bade his wife put certain remedies into his bag,--"and look after that child," he called over his shoulder to his efficient Martha. She was so efficient that when he had brought Jinny and the buggy to the door, Philly was able to gasp out that Mr. Fenn was sick. "Dying." "Don't try to talk," he said again, as he helped her into the buggy. But after a while she was able to tell him, hoarsely: "I wanted him to love me." William King was silent. "I used a charm. It was wicked." "Come, come; not wicked," said the doctor; "a little foolish, perhaps. A new frock, and a rose in your hair, and a smile at another man, would be enough of a charm, my dear." Philippa shook her head. "It was not enough. I wore my best frock, and I went to Dr. Lavendar's church--" "Good gracious!" said William King. "They were not enough. So I used a charm. I made a drink--" "Ah!" said the doctor, frowning. "What was in the drink, Miss Philly?" "Perhaps it was not the right herb," she said; "it may have been 'mother-wort'; but the book said 'monk's-hood,' and I--" William King reached for his whip and cut Jinny across the flanks. "ACONITE!" he said under his breath, while Jinny leaped forward in shocked astonishment. "Will he live?" said Philippa. Dr. King, flecking Jinny again, and letting his reins hang over the dashboard, could not help putting a comforting arm around her. "I hope so," he said; "I hope so!" After all, there was no use telling the child that probably by this time her lover was either dead or getting better. "It's his own fault," William King thought, angrily. "Why in thunder didn't he fall in love like a man, instead of making the child resort to--G'on, Jinny! G'on!" He still had the whip in his hand when they drew up at the gate. CHAPTER IV