e depth of the
man's emotion and gauging the strength of the superb creature he was.

"I won't let you take me if it isn't safe," he told him, and turned to
his patient again.

"Do you expect to stay up all night?" he suddenly asked the girl.

"I--I am anxious to, if I can be of the slightest help."

"One can never tell," he replied. "I might be glad to have you with
me. You don't lose your head--and you're efficient."

Presently Papineau arrived with his dogs and took his wife home. The
good lady had looked upon the doctor's cutting with profound disfavor.
A suggestion of hers about herbs had been treated with scant respect.
Before leaving she spoke to Madge.

"I stay h'all night too--but it ain't no good, because if he lif
to-morrow night den you go sleep an' I stay 'ere. Before I go to bed I
prays moch. I--I 'opes he lif through de night--heem no more bad as
heem was, anyvays, an' dat someting."

So they went away sorrowfully, to the little new-born calf and the
babies and the children who needed them, and Stefan sat on the floor
with his back to the wall, while Maigan snuggled up against him.

Dr. Starr remained all night, sometimes dozing a little on his chair,
with the ability of the man often called at night to take little
snatches of sleep here and there, but Madge was at all times wide
awake. Some time after midnight Hugo appeared to be sleeping quietly.
The valuable candles had been extinguished, of course, but the little
lamp was burning, shaded on one side by a piece of birch bark. Stefan
had gradually curled up on the floor, under the table, where he was
out of the way, and was snoring lustily. In the morning, doubtless, he
would most honestly insist that he had not slept an instant. Out of
doors the Swede's dogs had dug holes in the snow and, with sensitive
noses covered by their bushy tails, were awaiting in slumber the next
call from their master. The great falls kept up their moan and the
trees swayed and cracked. A wind-borne branch, falling on the roof,
made a sudden racket that was startling.

At frequent intervals Madge rose and gave Hugo some water, for which
he always seemed grateful, or adjusted the pillow beneath his head.
Once, when she sat down again, she saw the doctor's eyes fixed upon
her, gravely.

"You have the necessary instinct," he told her, "and the patience and
perseverance. I don't know what your plans may be for the future, but
you would make a good nurse."

Madge shr