hetabel asked--

"Have you seen the doctor?"

"Yes," he answered curtly.

"What did he say?"

"He'd got a pass'l o' learned names of maladies--I can't recollect
them all. Tain't like as I should."

"But--did he give you any medicine?"

"Yes, I had to pay for it too."

"Oh, Jonas, do give it me, and tell me, are you quite sure you
explained to him exactly what ailed baby?"

"I reckon I did."

"And the bottle, Jonas?"

"Don't be in such a won'erful hurry. I've other things to do than
get that put yet. How is the child?"

"Rather better."

"Better!" he echoed, and Mehetabel, who looked intently in his
face, saw no sign of satisfaction, rather of disappointment.

"Oh, Jonas!" she cried, "is it naught to you that baby is so ill?
You surely don't want him to die?"

He turned fiercely on her, his face hard and gray, and his teeth
shining--

"What makes you say that--you?"

"Oh, nothin', Jonas, only you don't seem to care a bit about baby,
and rather to have a delight in his bein' so ill."

"He's better, you say?"

"Yes--I really do think it."

There was an unpleasant expression in his face that frightened her.
Was it the eye of Jonas that had blighted the child? But no--Karon
Boxall had said that it was ill-wished by a woman. Jonas left the
room, ascended the stairs, and strode about in the chamber overhead.

Swaying in her chair, holding the infant to her heart, the sole
heart that loved it, but loved it with a love ineffable, she heard
her husband open the window, and then hastily shut it again. Then
there was a pause in his movement overhead, and he came shortly
after down the stairs. He held a phial in his hand--and without
looking at Mehetabel, thrust it towards her, with the curt
injunction, "Take."

"Perhaps," said the young mother, "as my darling is better, I need
not give him the medicine."

"That's just like your ways," exclaimed the Broom-Squire, savagely.
"Fust I get no rest till I promise to go to the doctor, and then
when I've put myself about to go, and bring the bottle as has cost
me half-a-crown, you won't have it."

"Indeed--it is only----"

"Oh, yes--only--to annoy me. The child is ill. I told the doctor
all, and he said, that this would set it to rights and give it
sleep, and rest to all of us." He was in a bad temper. Mehetabel
did not venture to say more. She took the phial and placed it on
the table. It was not wrapped up in paper.

Then Jonas hastily went forth. He h