for the money, but that he was afraid
for himself in the act of taking it.

Elbridge gave a cough on the other side of the door, and said with a
little hesitation, "All right," and Northwick heard him tramp away, and
go down stairs.

He went back to the safe and pulled open the heavy door, whose
resistance helped him shake off his nervousness. Then he took the money
from the drawer where he had laid it, counted it, slipped it into the
inner pocket of his waistcoat, and buttoned it in there. He shut the
safe and locked it. The succession of these habitual acts calmed him
more and more, and after he had struck a match and kindled the fire on
his hearth, which he had hitherto forgotten, he was able to settle again
to his preparations in writing.

VI.

When Elbridge came back, Northwick called out, "Come in!" and then went
and unlocked the door for him. "I forgot it was locked," he said,
carelessly. "Do you think the colt's going to be lame?"

"Well, I don't like the way she behaves, very well. Them shoes have got
to come off." Elbridge stood at the corner of the desk, and diffused a
strong smell of stable through the hot room.

"You'll see to it, of course," said Northwick. "I'm going away in the
morning, and I don't know just how long I shall be gone." Northwick
satisfied his mechanical scruple against telling a lie by this formula;
and in its shelter he went on to give Elbridge instructions about the
management of the place in his absence. He took some money from his
pocket-book and handed it to him for certain expenses, and then he said,
"I want to take the five o'clock train, that reaches Ponkwasset at nine.
You can drive me up with the black mare."

"All right," said Elbridge; but his tone expressed a shadow of
reluctance that did not escape Northwick.

"Anything the matter?" he asked.

"I dunno. Our little boy don't seem to be very well."

"What ails him?" asked Northwick, with the sympathy it was a relief for
him to feel.

"Well, Dr. Morrell's just been there, and he's afraid it's the
membranous crou--" The last letter stuck in Elbridge's throat; he gulped
it down.

"Oh, I _hope_ not," said Northwick.

"He's comin' back again--he had to go off to another place--but I could
see 'twa'n't no use," said Elbridge with patient despair; he had got
himself in hand again, and spoke clearly.

Northwick shrank back from the shadow sweeping so near him; a shadow
thrown from the skies, no doubt, but te