“‘Third swallow be—no, I won’t swear, but I will say Thunder and Mars!’ he roared; ‘have I been insulted in my own house? I won’t stand it! I’ll gag, I’ll heave, I’ll puke, but what I’ll get rid of the stuff! Give _me_ water for the colic,—_me!_’ “‘But if the water answered the purpose, why do you care?’ Bell asked, and father gave her a look very like, ‘_Et tu Brute_.’ “He could not deny that he was better,—that something had helped him; but it wasn’t sweetened water; no indeed; and I might heave it out of the window. “I took up the goblet to do so, when he yelled: “‘Don’t be a fool because you made one of me! Set that glass down and bring me that phial.’ “I obeyed, and he read on the little yellowish paper: ‘For Colic. For an adult, take six every hour. For children from two to three, according to age. Prepared by R. West, M.D., Beechwood.’ “He read it aloud twice, then asked, ‘Who the —— was _R. West, M.D._, and how the plague came he there?’ “The hurricane was over, and I ventured to explain, asking if he were not very gentlemanly and pleasant. “‘He’s well enough for a _fool_!’ he replied, declaring he should have been better without the truck; that had nothing to do with it. “This morning I missed the little phial, and when I asked where it was, father told me to mind my business, and then I knew he had it safe in his vest pocket, a charm against future attacks of colic. How Bell scolded when we were alone, and how I rolled on the floor and laughed. Bell is smitten; I can see it in her face and manner. She does nothing but think of Dr. West, who has returned to Beechwood. Will I ever see him again? and does Dora Freeman hate or like him, which?” CHAPTER IX. EXTRACT FROM DR. WEST’S DIARY. “BEECHWOOD, July. “I did not see Dora after all, and I had thought so much about it, feeling, I am afraid, more than willing that Robin should be sick, and so give me an excuse for going to Morrisville. Since receiving that little note from Dora, I have frequently dared to build castles of what might some day be, for something in that message led me to hope that I am not indifferent to her. The very fact that she answered my informal letter asking the loan of a book would prove it so, so I sit and think and wonder what the future has in store for me, until my patients are in danger of being neglected. “Poor Robin, I fear he is not long for this world, and when I remember how perfectly helpless he is, and must always remain, I say to myself: “‘It is well that the child should follow the mother, if indeed, as Dora told him, she is in _heaven sure_.’