d up with a bit of sweet-briar and thyme, to poor Annie
Brand.

The next day passed like the first. Allison went when she was called,
and sat beside the sick man's bed for an hour or two. He followed her
with his eyes and seemed to know her, but he did not utter a word. He
was restless and uneasy, and muttered and sighed, but he had no power to
move himself upon the bed, and he did not fall asleep, as Allison hoped
he might do after a while. For the look in his troubled eyes hurt her
sorely. There was recognition in them, she thought, and doubt, and a
gleam of anger.

"If I could do something for him," thought she. "But to sit here
useless! And I must not even speak to him until he speaks to me."

She rose and walked about the room, knowing that the dull eyes _were_
following her as she moved. When she sat down again she took a small
New Testament from her pocket, and as she opened it he turned his face
away, and did not move again till a step was heard at the door. Then as
some one entered, he cried out with a stronger voice than had been heard
from him yet:

"Is that you, Dickson? Send yon woman away--if she be a woman and not a
wraith (spirit)," he added, as he turned his face from the light.

It was not Dickson. It was the doctor who met Allison's startled look
as he came in at the door.

"You have had enough for this time. Has he spoken to you?" said he.

"He has spoken, but not to me. I think he knew me, and--not with
good-will."

"You could hardly expect that, considering all things. He has made a
step in advance, for all that. And now go away and do not show your
face in this place again to-day. Wrap yourself up well, and go for a
long walk. Go out of the town, or down to the sands. Yes, you must do
as I bid you. Never heed the auld wives and the bairns to-day. I ken
they keep your thoughts on their troubles and away from your own. But
you may have a good while of this work yet,--weeks it may be, or
months," and in his heart he said, "God grant it may not be for years."

"Yes, I will go," said Allison faintly.

"And you must take good care of yourself. Mistress Allison, you have
set out on a road in which there is no turning back now, if you would
help to save this man's soul."

"I have no thought of turning back," said Allison.

"That is well. And to go on you will need faith and patience, and ye'll
also need to have a' your wits about you. You'll need perfect health
and y