“It is rather too late to change my profession, my dear,” said her husband, good-humoredly. “I shall be fifty next birthday. To be sure, Ellen Jones tells me that in her class at the Normal School there is a maiden lady of sixty-two, who has just begun to prepare herself for the profession of a teacher. I am not quite so old as that.”
Here the servant opened the door, ushering in a farm laborer.
“Good-evening, Abner,” said the doctor, recognizing him, as, indeed, he knew every face within half a dozen miles. “Anything amiss at home?”
“Mrs. Felton is took with spasms,” said Abner. “Can you come right over?”
“What have you done for her?”
“Put her feet in warm water, and put her to bed. Can you come right over?”
“Yes,” said the doctor, rising and exchanging his dressing-gown for a coat, and drawing on his boots. “I will go as soon as my horse is ready.”
Orders were sent out to put the horse to the sleigh. This was quickly done, and the doctor, fully accoutered, walked to the door.
“I shall be back as soon as I can, Mary,” he said.
“That won’t be very soon. It is a good two-miles’ ride.”