that's a dear.
'Tes sinful--all these gallons o' true affecshun a-runnin' to waste.
You'm too lovin' by half, as Sam said when hes wife got hugged by a
bear. What do 'ee think, sir?"

The last sentence was addressed to the little Doctor, who, after
staring at the patient for some minutes without noticeable result,
nodded his head, announced that the fever must run its course, and
promised to send a capable nurse up to Kit's House without delay.

"Beggin' your pard'n, Doctor," interposed Caleb with firmness, "but
I've a-got my orders."

"Eh?"

"I've a-got my orders. Plaise God, an' wi' plenty o' doctor's
trade, [1] us'll pull 'un round: but nobody nusses maaster 'ceptin'
you an' me--leastways, no womankind."

"This is nonsensical."

"Nonsensical, do 'ee say? Look 'ee here, Doctor; do 'ee think I'd
trust a woman up here wi' maaster a-makin' offers o' marriage sixteen
to the dozen? Why, bless 'ee, sir, her'd be down an' ha' the banns
called afore night, an' maaster not fit to shake hes head, much less
say as the Prayer Books orders--'I renounce mun all.' That's a
woman, Doctor, an' ef any o' the genteel sex sets foot on Kit's beach
I'll--I'll _stone_ her."

The Doctor gave way in the end and withdrew, promising another visit
before evening. When he returned, however, at five in the afternoon,
he found, with some wonder, a woman quietly installed in the
sick-room. It happened thus:--

Barely an hour after the Doctor's departure, Caleb, sitting at his
master's bedside, heard footsteps on the gravel walk, and looked out
of window.

"Hist!" he called softly; and Peter Dearlove, followed by Paul,
stepped round the angle of the house into sight. The Twins
bore a look of the gravest perplexity and a large market basket.

"Hulloa!" said Caleb, "what's up?"

The pair looked at each other. At length Peter began with a serious
face and unwonted formality of tone--

"Es Mr. Fogo wi'in?"

"Why, iss," Caleb allowed, "he's inside."

"We was a-wishin' to request o' the pleasure"--here Peter looked at
Paul, who nodded--"the pleasure o' an interval o' five minnits."

"Interview," corrected Paul.

"I misdoubts," answered his brother, "that you are wrong, Paul.
I remember the expresshun 'pon the programme o' a Sleight o' Hand
Entertainment, an' there et said 'Interval'--'An Interval o' Five
Minnits.'"

"Ef that's so," broke in Caleb from above with fine irony, "p'raps
you wudn' mind handin' up your visitin' c