said, in reply to Dr. Vincent's question, How she felt? "I
feel like bursting out crying." After prayers, however, when the plans
for the day were arranged and a drive to Hager brook--a picturesque
mountain glen and waterfall--was made the order of the forenoon, she
proposed to go with us. I had almost feared to suggest it, and yet was
greatly relieved to find that she felt able to take the ride. It was
decided, therefore, that she, Hatty K., Dr. Vincent and I should form
the party. As we drove toward the village I noticed that Dr. Wyman was
just stopping at our next neighbor's. Dr. Hemenway, our old physician,
had removed to St. Paul's, and Dr. W. had taken his place. I was
rejoiced to see him, both on her account and my own. I had not been well
myself during the week, and although I had repeatedly proposed to
call in the doctor for her, she stoutly refused. So, after getting a
prescription for myself, I said, "And now, doctor, I want you to
do something for my wife," relating to him her ill-turn on Monday.
"Certainly (the doctor replied) she needs some _arsenicum_," which he
gave her, promising to call and see us on the next Monday. As we rode on
Dr. Vincent suggested, laughingly, what a strange story might be based
upon Dr. W.'s prescription. "I might report, for example, that I myself
saw the author of 'Stepping Heavenward' eating arsenic!" She joined
heartily in the laugh and during all the rest of the drive conversed
with great animation. She related several anecdotes of her early life,
talked with admiration of the writings and genius of Mrs. Stowe--one Of
whose New England stories she had just been reading--and seemed exactly
like herself. Upon reaching the brook in East Rupert and starting with
Dr. Vincent for the glen, I said to her, "Now don't walk off out of
sight, where I can't see you when we come back." "Oh yes, I shall," she
replied in her pleasant way.

"After we were left alone that Saturday morning (Hatty writes) Mrs.
Prentiss gathered quite a bunch of the wild ageratum, and then dug up
the roots of three wild clematis vines with her scissors. She then
called my attention to the thimbleberry bushes along the edge of
the brook, admiring the foliage of the plant and expressing the
determination to have one or more in her garden next year."

On coming down from the glen I found her sitting on the ground near the
brook. Taking her by the hand--for she seemed very tired--I helped
her to rise and walked ba