"All right." And he passed on.
They were all seated at the dinner-table, that noon, when the doctor came into the room. His face was white and very stern.
"Vigil is dead," he said abruptly. "Do any of you children know anything about it?"
"I don't," said the twins, in a breath, and Hope echoed them; but Phebe started and cast a swift glance at Billy.
"Do you, Billy?" the doctor asked, for the glance was not lost on him.
"No; of course not. When did she die?"
"This noon, when I came in, I found her. She was groaning pitifully, and very weak. I wonder that you didn't hear her."
"She died?" Billy asked sympathetically, for the doctor's voice broke over the last words. Vigil had been his favorite horse, and together, man and beast, they had passed through many a tragic night and day. Such friends cause bitter mourning.
"I shot her, to put her out of her misery," he responded briefly. Then he turned to Phebe.
"Phebe, do you know anything about this?"