out Mary Baines's lad?"

"No; I have full trust in human means, and above all, in--what I need
not speak of. Still, precautions are wise. Do you remember that day
when, rather against Ursula's wish, I vaccinated the children?"

I remembered. Also that the virus had taken effect with all but
Muriel; and we had lately talked of repeating the much-blamed and
miraculous experiment upon her. I hinted this.

"Phineas, you mistake," he answered, rather sharply. "She is quite
safe--as safe as the others. I wrote to Dr. Jenner himself. But don't
mention that I spoke about this."

"Why not?"

"Because to-day I heard that they have had the small-pox at Kingswell."

I felt a cold shudder. Though inoculation and vaccination had made it
less fatal among the upper classes, this frightful scourge still
decimated the poor, especially children. Great was the obstinacy in
refusing relief; and loud the outcry in Norton Bury, when Mr. Halifax,
who had met and known Dr. Jenner in London--finding no practitioner
that would do it, persisted in administering the vaccine virus himself
to his children. But still, with a natural fear, he had kept them out
of all risk of taking the small-pox until now.

"John, do you think--"

"No; I will not allow myself to think. Not a word of this at home,
mind. Good-bye!"

He walked away, and I returned up the path heavily, as if a cloud of
terror and dole were visibly hanging over our happy Longfield.

The doctor appeared; he went up to the sick lad; then he and Mr.
Halifax were closeted together for a long time. After he was gone,
John came into the kitchen, where Ursula sat with Walter on her knee.
The child was in his little white night-gown, playing with his elder
brothers, and warming his rosy toes.

The mother had recovered herself entirely: was content and gay. I saw
John's glance at her, and then--and then I feared.

"What does the doctor say? The child will soon be well?"

"We must hope so."

"John, what do you mean? I thought the little fellow looked better
when I went up to see him last. And there--I hear the poor mother
up-stairs crying."

"She may cry; she has need," said John, bitterly. "She knew it all the
while. She never thought of our children; but they are safe. Be
content, love--please God, they are quite safe. Very few take it after
vaccination."

"It--do you mean the small-pox? Has the lad got small-pox? Oh, God
help us! My children--my childr