"John, did the doctor tell you it was my fault that Jeff-Jack got this sickness?"
"No, and I shouldn't have believed it if he had."
"Thank you, John"—her lifted eyes filled—"thank you; but it was; it was my fault, and nobody shall watch him in my place." It would have made a difference to several besides herself, had she known that the doctor on both his last two visits had forgotten to say that no one need any longer sit up all night.
John called again Friday morning. School himself as best he could, still an energy in his mien showed there was news from Suez.
"What is it, old man," asked the slow-voiced invalid, "have they made the new slate?"
"Yes, and the bill's passed empowering the three counties to levy the tax and take the stock. Oh, Garnet's a wheel-horse, yes, sir-ee!—and Gamble and Bulger are a team! Bulger isn't coming back for a while at all; they've made him secretary."
A perceptible shade came over Ravenel's face, although he smiled as he said,
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Have they made you vice-president?"
"Yea, they have! I no more expected such a thing—I knew Gamble, of course, would be president and Champion treasurer; but—Well, they say I can push things better as vice-president, and I reckon that's so;" said John, and ceased without adding that his salary was continued and that Bulger would draw none.
"Where does Major Garnet come in?" asked Fannie.