“Who? Dr. Parker? Have I seen—what in the world are you comin' HERE after the doctor for?”
“'Cause—'cause I didn't know where else to come. I been to his house and he ain't to home. Nobody ain't to home. His wife, Mis Parker, she's gone up to Boston yes'day on the coach, and—and it's all dark and the house door's open and the shay's gone, so—”
“Who's sick? Who wants him?”
“And—and—all the rest of the houses round here was shut up 'cause everybody's to meetin'. I peeked in at the meetin' house and he ain't there, and I see your light and—”
“Who's sick? Tell me that, won't you?”
“Cap'n Eben. He's awful sick. I cal'late he's goin' to die, and Gracie, she—”
“Cap'n Eben? Eben Hammond! Dyin'? What are you talkin' about?”
“Huh! huh!” puffed the messenger impatiently. “Didn't I tell ye? Cap'n Eben's adyin'. I seen him. All white and still and—and awful. And Gracie, she's all alone and—”
“Alone? Where's Nat?”
“She don't know. He ain't to home. But I got to find Dr. Parker.”