"He thinks I'm mother."
"Let him. Humour him and watch him like a hawk to-night. To-morrow, when nurse comes, you must turn in and have a long sleep. Mr. Marydrew's going to stop till to-morrow. Don't let him smoke in your father's room though. Now I must be off, or I shall lose myself."
He rode away just as Peter arrived on a pony with full baskets. The lad did not see his father, but learned all there was to know.
"He's going to die I should think," he said.
"Not if Auna and me can keep him alive," promised William, "and be it as 'twill, a few days must pass before doctor can settle. The fever took him like a tiger and he'll fall, or conquer, afore Sunday."
"Let John Henry and Avis know first thing to-morrow," begged Auna, and her brother promised to do so.
"Will you look at him? He's asleep for the minute."
But Peter declined.
"Can't help him for me to look at him," he said. "I'll get going. We'll send up some more milk and sago to-morrow and hurry 'em about the cow. Be the stove all right?"
"It is," she answered. "It works very well, now the wind's changed, and the fire-grate in his room draws very suent too."