"And suppose you had just fallen off the train and under it, what then?"
"Then I should have been killed, I suppose. But I took care not to fall, and I knew Mr. Antis would lose his journey if he did not have his pocket-book and papers."
"I should have lost more than my journey, I dare say," remarked Mr. Antis. "I don't know how I happened to do such a thing. Doctor, this is Eben Fairchild, son of an old acquaintance of yours."
"Oh yes, I remember you very well now, though you have grown since I saw you," said the doctor, shaking hands with him. "And how are you getting on, Eben?"
"Nicely, sir. I am working with Mr. Antis in the mill," replied Eben, blushing with pleasure at being introduced to the famous doctor, whom he had been accustomed to regard with much reverence.
"That's good; and what is your sister about?"
"Flora runs a sewing machine, and does very well by it," answered Eben. "She gets a great deal of work from Miss Barnard and other ladies at the Cure."
"Tell her not to work too hard. She will be getting consumption or something worse if she does. Tell her from me she ought to take a walk every day."
"I will, sir. I try to have her go out every day, but she is so afraid of losing time. But here is my stopping-place, I suppose."
"You had better go on to Hobartown and wait there for the three-o'clock train," said Mr. Antis. "I'll settle your passage, and there is something to pay for your dinner. You will find it a more entertaining place to wait than this."