lie;
The best physicians cannot save
Themselves or patients from the Grave."

"Them's the words, an' I've chose 'em so as Doctor Parsons shall have a
smack in the faace when I'm gone. Not that he's wan o' the 'best
physicians' by a mighty long way; but he'll knaw I was thinking of him,
an' gnash his teeth, I hope, every time he sees the stone. I owe him
that--an' more 'n that, as you'll see when I'm gone."

"You mustn't talk of going, aunt--not for many a day. You're a young
woman for these parts. You must take care--that's all."

But he saw death in her face while he spoke, and could scarcely hide the
frantic jubilation her promise had awakened in him. The news swept him
along on a flood of novel thoughts. Coming as it did immediately upon
his refusal to betray Will Blanchard, the circumstance looked, even in
the eyes of Hicks, like a reward, an interposition of Providence on his
behalf. He doubted not but that the bulk of mankind would so regard it.
There arose within him old-fashioned ideas concerning right and
wrong--clear notions that brought a current of air through his mind and
blew away much rotting foliage and evil fruit. This sun-dawn of
prosperity transformed the man for a moment, even awoke some just
ethical thoughts in him.

His reverie was interrupted, for, on the way from Mrs. Lezzard's home,
Clement met Doctor Parsons himself and asked concerning his aunt's true
condition.

"She gave you the facts as they are," declared the medical man. "Nothing
can save her. She's had _delirium tremens_ Lord knows how often. A
fortnight to a month--that's all. Nature loves these forlorn hopes and
tinkers away at them in a manner that often causes me to rub my eyes.
But you can't make bricks without straw. Nature will find the game 's up
in a few days; then she'll waste no more time, and your aunt will be
gone."

Home went Clement Hicks, placed his mother in a whirl of mental
rejoicing at this tremendous news, then set out for Chris. Their compact
of the morning--that she should await his return in the woods--he quite
forgot; but Mrs. Blanchard reminded him and added that Chris had
returned in no very good humour, then trudged up to Newtake to see
Phoebe. Cool and calm the widow stood before Clement's announcement,
expressed her gratification, and gave him joy of the promised change in
his life.

"Glad enough am I to hear tell of this. But you'll act just--eh? You
won't forget that poor auld blid, Lezzard