self-consciousness and found voice.

Often in prayer-meeting Jerome had heard this man's fervent
outpouring of the religious faith which seemed the only intelligence
of his soul, and, like all single and concentrated powers, had a
certain force of persuasion. Jerome eyed him now with a kind of pious
admiration and respect, and yet with recollections.

"If I were a man, I'd stop colorin' up and actin' scared," thought
the boy; and then they both heard a door open and shut, and knew the
doctor was coming.

Jerome's heart beat hard, yet he looked quite boldly at the door.
Somehow the young farmer's clumsy embarrassment had roused his own
pride and courage. When the doctor entered, he stood up with alacrity
and made his manners, and the young farmer settled to another foot,
with a hoarse note of greeting.

The doctor said good-day, with formal courtesy, with his fine, keen
face turned seemingly upon both of them impartially; then he
addressed the young man.

"How is your wife to-day?" he inquired.

The young man turned purple, where he had been red, at this direct
address. "She's pretty--comfortable," he stammered.

"Is she out of medicine?"

"Yes, sir. That's what I come for." With that the young man pulled,
with distressed fumblings and jerks, a bottle from his pocket, which
he handed to the doctor, who had in the meantime opened the door of
one of the cupboards.

The doctor took a large bottle from the cupboard, and filled from
that the one which the young man had brought. Jerome stood trembling,
watching the careful gurgling of a speckled green liquid from one
bottle to another. A strange new odor filled the room, overpowering
all the others.

When the doctor gave the bottle to the young man, he shoved it
carefully away in his pocket again, and then stood coloring more
deeply and hesitating.

"Can ye take your pay in wood for this and the last two lots?" he
murmured at length, so low that Jerome scarcely heard him.

But the doctor never lowered nor raised his incisive, high-bred voice
for any man. His reply left no doubt of the question. "No, Mr.
Upham," said Doctor Prescott. "You must pay me in money for medicine.
I have enough wood of my own."

"I know ye have--consider'ble," responded the young man, in an agony,
"but--"

"I would like the money as soon as convenient," said the doctor.

"I'm--havin'--dreadful--hard work to get--any money myself--lately,"
persisted the young man. "Folks--they prom