n. His
rollicking manner made it impossible to believe him capable of any
depth of feeling, and he had a trick of talking least about the things
for which he cared most. The failing that banned him from his work was
an inherited one. He suffered for the sins of his fathers, for the
indulgences of many generations of hard riding, hard living, reckless
hot-blooded Celts. He was too old to reform now, he would say.
Perhaps later on he would be "making his soul"; in the meantime he
drifted.

Emile, Maria and the boiling water all made their entree together. The
eyes of the former travelled first of all to the bed and then to the
heap of vegetation.

"_Qu 'est-ce que c'est que ca_?" he demanded. "She is better, eh?"

"No, she's worse," answered Michael. He seized upon the leaves and
began to bundle them into the steaming basin.

"We shouldn't have been gone so long. What's this did ye say, Poleski?
Well, 'tis the only thing I can do for her. After I left you I went
and got these. They're great believers in herbs in this counthry, and
by the light of what I have seen, so am I. The poor people never use
anything else, and I've seen some fine cures. It's unprofessional, but
it's giving her a chance and as I told you I can't operate." He
withdrew his fingers hurriedly.

"Faith, that jade with the dark eyes knew what she was doing when she
made this water hot! They're ready now, and I'll want a piece of stuff
to lay them on. Find me a piece of the colleen's finery, something old
that she won't be wanting to use any more."

He pronounced the last two words as "ANNIE MOORE," and would have been
furious if the fact had been pointed out to him, for like all Irishmen
he would never admit the possession of a brogue.

A pale blue silk scarf was found, and ruthlessly utilised as a bandage.
Then Emile lifted the inert figure, while the doctor wound it round her
throat and fastened it securely.

"Lift her higher, man," he adjured Emile.

"There's only one pillow?--Then use this." He rolled up his coat, and
put it behind her head.

"We've done all we can now, and must just wait till this begins to
draw. It will make her uncomfortable, and we must watch that she
doesn't pull it off. Give me a cigarette if ye have one, Poleski.
'Tis hot work this."

He sat down on the bed and took up Arithelli's thin wrist. In his
shirt sleeves, with his hair well on end, and his robust voice very
little subdued below its usu