of grief of the whole figure, however, at once exposed the
absurdity of the suspicion; and he hastily followed.

The woman led the way up-stairs to the front room, and paused at the
door, to let him enter first. It was scantily furnished with an old deal
box, a few chairs, and a tent bedstead, without hangings or cross-rails,
which was covered with a patchwork counterpane. The dim light admitted
through the curtain which he had noticed from the outside, rendered the
objects in the room so indistinct, and communicated to all of them so
uniform a hue, that he did not, at first, perceive the object on which
his eye at once rested when the woman rushed frantically past him, and
flung herself on her knees by the bedside.

Stretched upon the bed, closely enveloped in a linen wrapper, and covered
with blankets, lay a human form, stiff and motionless. The head and
face, which were those of a man, were uncovered, save by a bandage which
passed over the head and under the chin. The eyes were closed. The left
arm lay heavily across the bed, and the woman held the passive hand.

The surgeon gently pushed the woman aside, and took the hand in his.

'My God!' he exclaimed, letting it fall involuntarily--'the man is dead!'

The woman started to her feet and beat her hands together.

'Oh! don't say so, sir,' she exclaimed, with a burst of passion,
amounting almost to frenzy. 'Oh! don't say so, sir! I can't bear it!
Men have been brought to life, before, when unskilful people have given
them up for lost; and men have died, who might have been restored, if
proper means had been resorted to. Don't let him lie here, sir, without
one effort to save him! This very moment life may be passing away. Do
try, sir,--do, for Heaven's sake!'--And while speaking, she hurriedly
chafed, first the forehead, and then the breast, of the senseless form
before her; and then, wildly beat the cold hands, which, when she ceased
to hold them, fell listlessly and heavily back on the coverlet.

'It is of no use, my good woman,' said the surgeon, soothingly, as he
withdrew his hand from the man's breast. 'Stay--undraw that curtain!'

'Why?' said the woman, starting up.

'Undraw that curtain!' repeated the surgeon in an agitated tone.

'I darkened the room on purpose,' said the woman, throwing herself before
him as he rose to undraw it.--'Oh! sir, have pity on me! If it can be of
no use, and he is really dead, do not expose that form to other ey