wardly.

"Mother will be so glad," says Esther. She pities the man. She would
not have been so cruel. She would have used gentler means, as she had
been doing for twenty-eight hours! And Davy would have taken no
medicine.

The room is at eighty degrees. The spray goes incessantly. The
medicine is taken every half hour.

At three o'clock the emetic acts, giving immediate relief.

"I have heard my mother say," says Esther, "that a child is eased by a
change of flannels. He is better now. I think I will put on a clean
undershirt."

The woman takes the sick child in her lap and sits near the stove. The
difficulties of the night return.

Why should the man's eyes be riveted on that captive's form! Ah! What
a pitiful look is that on golden-head's face! The respiration is once
more impeded. The little ribs start into sight. The little bellows of
the body sucks with all its force. The breath comes at last. There is
no complaint. There is the mute grandeur of Socrates.

"It is in us all!" the man cries.

"What is it in us all, David?" asks the woman.

"Cover him quickly, Esther, my dear," the man gasps, and buries his
face in the pillow. "God of mercy, wipe that picture out of my
memory!" he prays.

CHAPTER VII

THE PRIMARIES

The sun of Friday morning shines brightly. The sparrows chirp, the
wagons rattle, the boys cry the papers, and the household smiles.

The peddling huckster's son is not surprised. He knew Dr. Floddin
would cure Davy.

The cook buys heavily. They'll eat now. "Mind what I'll fix for that
darlint to-day!" she threatens.

The housekeeper has taken Esther's place at Davy's couch.

"You have undoubtedly saved the life of your boy by making him take the
emetic. He will love you just as much. I know--Mrs. Lockwin was
telling me how much it disturbed you. Don't lose your empire over him,
and he will be all right in a week. He must not have a relapse--that
might kill him."

"Doctor, I am risen out of hell, the third day. I cannot tell you what
I have felt, especially since midnight. But I can tell you now what I
want. I desire that you shall take my place on this case. My personal
affairs are extremely pressing. What yesterday was impossible is now
easy. In fact, it seems to me that only impossibilities are probable.
Remember that money is of no account. Throw aside your other practice.
See that the women keep my boy from catching that cold again and I wi