Michael gave a groan. "If she dies, I shall have caused her death!" he said.
"God forbid!" cried the mother, turning paler, and shivering.
"Oh, ma'am, won't you have another doctor?" said Michael.
"Yes, I will—I can, now I have this money," she said eagerly. "There is a physician who is said to have great skill in treating diphtheria. My doctor mentioned him just now."
"Where does he live?" asked Michael. "I'll go and fetch him. I'll go and bring him at once, if you'll let me."
She looked at the old man, so eager, yet so weak and tremulous, and hesitated.
"You don't look fit to go," she said. "No, I'll send some one else."
"Oh, let me go," he cried. "I'll take a cab. No one could go quicker than I'll go. And it will be doing something for her, don't you see? I can never make amends; but it will be doing something if I go."
So she yielded, and gave him the physician's address. He went hurriedly from the house.