the consequences
if she sets it about as I'm not a woman of my word."

A few minutes more brought Mr. Carnegie home with Bessie Fairfax to his
own door. Hovering about on the watch for the doctor's return was Mr.
Wiley. Though there was no great love lost between them, the rector was
imbued with the local faith in the doctor's skill, and wanted to consult
him.

"You have heard that the fever has broken out again?" he said with
visible trepidation.

"I have no case of fever myself. I hear that Robb has."

"Yes--two in one house. Now, what precautions do you recommend against
infection?"

"For nervous persons the best precaution is to keep out of the way of
infection."

"You would recommend me to keep away from Marsh-End, then? Moxon is
nearer, though it is in my parish."

"I never recommend a man to dodge his duty. Mrs. Wallop will be of most
use at present; she is just starting."

"Mrs. Wallop? My wife has engaged her and paid her for a month in the
event of any trouble coming amongst ourselves. You must surely be
mistaken, Mr. Carnegie?"

"Mrs. Wiley was mistaken. She did not know her woman. Good-morning to
you, sir."

CHAPTER XLI.

_FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES._

Mrs. Carnegie from the dining-room window witnessed the colloquy between
the rector and her husband, and came out into the porch to receive her
dear Bessie. "They will not expect you at Fairfield until they see you;
so come in, love," said she, and Bessie gladly obeyed.

The doctor's house was all the quieter for the absence of the elder boys
at Hampton. The other children were playing in the orchard after school.
"It is a great convenience to have a school opened here where boys and
girls are both taught from four up to ten, and very nicely taught," said
the mother. "It gives me a little leisure. Even Totty goes, and likes
it, bless her!"

Mr. Carnegie was not many minutes in-doors. He ate a crust standing, and
then went away again to answer a summons that had come since he went out
in the morning.

"It will be a good opportunity, Bessie, to call on Miss Buff and Miss
Wort, and to say a word in passing to the Semples and Mittens; they are
always polite in asking after you," Mrs. Carnegie mentioned at the
children's dinner. But Miss Buff, having heard that Miss Fairfax was at
the doctor's house, forestalled these good intentions by arriving there
herself. She was ushered into the drawing-room, and Bessie joined her,
and was embrac