e day soon, if we nurse
you well," said Margaret.

"Then, Miss, don't let them move me, to take the blankets away again."

"You shall not be moved unless you wish it. I am going to stay with you
to-night."

Her brother did not oppose this, for he did not know of the unpleasant
glances and mutterings, with which Platt rewarded all Margaret's good
offices. Hope believed he should himself be out all night among his
patients. He would come early in the morning, and now fairly warned
Margaret that it was very possible that the child might die in the
course of the night. She was not deterred by this, nor by her dread of
the sick man. She had gained a new strength of soul, and this night she
feared nothing. During the long hours there was much to do--three
sufferers at once requiring her cares; and amidst all that she did, she
was sustained by the thought that she had seen Philip, and that he was
near. The abyss of nothingness was passed, and she now trod the ground
of certainty of his existence, and of his remembrance. When her brother
entered, letting in the first grey of the morning as he opened the
cottage door, he found her almost untired, almost gay. Platt was worse,
his wife much the same, and the child still living. The old woman's
heart was so far touched with the unwonted comfort of the past night,
and with her having been allowed, and even encouraged, to take her rest,
that she now offered her bundle of clothes for the lady to lie down
upon; and when that favour was declined, readily promised not to part
with any article to the fortune-teller, till she should see some of Mr
Hope's family again.

Hope thought Mrs Platt might possibly get through: and this was all
that was said on the way home. Margaret lay down to rest, to sweet
sleep, for a couple of hours: and when she appeared below, her brother
and sister had half done breakfast, and Mr Grey and his twin daughters
were with them.

Mr Grey came to say that he and all his family were to leave Deerbrook
in two hours. Where they should settle for the present, they had not
yet made up their minds. The first object was to get away, the epidemic
being now really too frightful to be encountered any longer. They
should proceed immediately to Brighton, and there determine whether to
go to the Continent, or seek some healthy place nearer home, to stay in,
till Deerbrook should again be habitable. They were extremely anxious
to carry Hester, Margaret, an