"You need not do that, for I don't apprehend master's seriously ill, but I shall be more satisfied if he has a doctor."
Mousey gave her lesson books to Maria, and went to do her bidding. An hour later Dr. James called, and pronounced Mr. Harding to be ill with pneumonia.
"He will want careful nursing," he told Maria; "you had better have a hospital nurse at once."
"I don't know if master will agree to that," she returned doubtfully.
"Oh, nonsense!" was the reply, for the doctor knew his patient's position. "I will speak to Mr. Harding myself," he said; "perhaps that will be best."
Accordingly, he returned to the old man's room, and presently came downstairs and informed Maria that he had promised her master to send him a good nurse, and that she might expect her within an hour.
"He must be very ill!" Maria exclaimed, after Dr. James had' taken his departure.
Mousey nodded. She stole upstairs to her cousin's room, and paused on the threshold to listen to his painful breathing; then softly spoke his name.
"Come in, child," he said, glancing towards the doorway with a slight smile on his face.
"Do you feel very ill, Cousin Robert?" she inquired, as she went to his side and kissed him gently.