"The city—it is healthy?" asked the General.
"Did you ask me if"—said the little Doctor, starting and looking up.
"The city—it has not much sickness at present?" repeated the father.
"No, yes—not much," said Mossy, and, with utter unconsciousness, leaned down upon his elbow and supplied an omitted word to the manuscript.
The General was on his feet as if by the touch of a spring.
"I must go!"
"Ah! no, papa," said the son.
"But, yes, I must."
"But wait, papa, I had just now something to speak of"—
"Well?" said the General, standing with his hand on the door, and with rather a dark countenance.