bar the entrance again.

"You won't want this door opened again to-night, will you, Doctor?"
inquired the man, rather impatiently, of the physician, who had stepped
to the door.

Dr. Hart hesitated, and seemed to debate with himself, and then
answered:

"I must stay with my patient for another hour, and then, if there should
be no change in her condition, I shall have to trouble you to let me
out, Mr. Martin--since you have got no warrant to keep me here," he
added, with a smile.

The man put up the last bar with a bang, and looked as if he wished he
had the authority of which the doctor spoke.

Dr. Hart returned to the room of his patient whom he found in the same
comatose state, watched by Miss Tabby, who was moaning over the young
babe that lay across her lap, and by Lyon Berners, who sat beside the
bed holding his wife's cold hand.

"Where is Miss Pendleton? I did not see her as I came up the passage,"
inquired the doctor, after he had looked at his patient.

"The warden's darter came and took her away to sleep in _her_ room, and
high time too, poor young lady, for she was about worn out," said Miss
Tabby.

The doctor took a seat near the head of the bed, where he could watch
the sick woman.

And all became very silent in the cell, until at length Miss Tabby
spoke.

"What's that roaring? It can't be thunder this time o' year."

"It is the creek swollen by the rain. I understand that it is very high,
lashed into a foam," answered the doctor.

"Oh," said Miss Tabby, indifferently; and all became again silent in the
cell but for the sound of many waters heard more and more distinctly
even through the heavy walls.

At length the doctor arose to go. He made a final careful examination of
his quiet patient, and then, turning to her distressed husband, said:

"I must ask you to go out with me, Mr. Berners, to bring back some
medicine for your wife, which I wish to put up at my office."

Lyon Berners silently arose and took up his hat. And the two gentlemen
left the cell together.

The warden had gone to bed, but had left orders with the night-watch to
let the visitors out when they wished to go.

Once more the heavy bars fell, and the thick doors were opened.

"Heaven and earth! what a night!" exclaimed the doctor, as he buttoned
his surtout tightly across his breast, and prepared to brave the fury of
the storm.

Lyon Berners, scarcely conscious of the state of the weather, followed
him.

It wa