for that night.

And a weary death-watch commenced, and continued in awful silence and
stillness until it was interrupted by the sound of horses' feet in front
of the house, and soon after by a loud knocking.

Miss Tabby sprang up to open the door and admit the doctor and the
lawyer.

"This is a terrible thing, Mrs. Winterose," said Dr. Hart, as he shook
hands with the old lady, and bowed to the other members of the family.

"Terrible indeed, sir," replied Mrs. Winterose, as she led the way to
the bedside.

"I am sorry to see you wounded, Mr. Blondelle; but we shall bring you
round all right," said Dr. Hart, as he took the hand of the dying man.

"Doctor, you know, or you will soon know, that you cannot do any such
thing. So let us have no flattery. But if you can give me anything to
keep me alive until I shall have finished a statement, that it may take
me an hour to make, you will do the only thing you possibly can do for
me," said Mr. Blondelle, speaking faintly, with difficulty, and with
frequent pauses.

"Let me examine your injuries," said the doctor, gently.

"Do so, if you must and will. But pray occupy as little of my precious
time as possible," pleaded the dying man.

The doctor proceeded to make his examination.

When he had finished it, he made not a single comment.

"I told you so," said Mr. Blondelle, interpreting his silence. "And now
give me something to keep me going until I finish my work, and then send
all these women out of the room, so as to leave us alone with the
lawyer; but let them supply him with writing materials first."

"I will do as you direct; but meanwhile, shall I not send for your
wife?" gently inquired the doctor.

"No; what would be the use? It will be all over with me before she can
possibly get here," answered Mr. Blondelle.

The doctor did not urge the point; he probably agreed with his patient.

When he had administered a stimulant, he whispered to Mrs. Winterose to
place writing materials on the little stand beside the cot, and then to
take her daughters and Gem up stairs.

When the women had left the room, the doctor bade the two laboring men
retire with Joe to the kitchen, where he himself would have followed
them, seeing that the rest of the house was closed up and fireless; but
at a sign from the dying man, he stayed, and took a seat by the bedside.

The lawyer sat between the bed's head and the little stand upon which
pens, ink, and paper had been placed.