"Ah, I should not, if it had not been for Elsie," answered Mary. "There, don't stop to talk about it now, Tom, but run on to the corner and stop Dr. Perceval, if you see him coming, or tell him to come and meet me here."
Tom was only just in time to catch the doctor as he drove past in his gig, and he went at once to meet Mary. She was still near the cottage, and when she saw him she said, "You are wanted here, doctor. Elsie is very ill; will you come and see her?"
"But Tom Winn said you wanted me."
"Yes, I want you to see Elsie, for I don't believe they know how bad she really is; and then my father would like to see you, I know, afterwards."
"Very well, I will go and see Elsie at once; but you must go home, for you are looking tired. Go home and lie down for the rest of the day, or the back will be bad again, and I know that would be a disappointment to everybody. I will call and let you know how your friend is, if you are an obedient girl," said the doctor, smiling.
"I will go home at once," said Mary, and the doctor went on to the cottage.
He found the back gate open, and went round to the kitchen entrance, and a survey of the room gave him a clue as to what was the matter upstairs. The tea things were set, and about a quarter of a loaf was on the table; Bobby and baby were standing close to it, and both were picking crumbs from it, and eating them with the greatest relish. There was a tiny scrap of fire in the grate, but the range was screwed up to its narrowest capacity, telling of such rigid economy that could not be far from actual starvation.
He knocked on the stairs, and called "Mrs. Winn," to let her know that he was there; for he was not sure from Mary's manner whether he had been sent for by the widow or not, and he did not want to give her a shock by walking up unannounced.
"I hear your daughter is very poorly. May I come up and see her?" he said, when he heard her footsteps on the stairs.
"Oh yes, certainly," said Mrs. Winn; and the next minute the doctor was at Elsie's bedside.