"Sit down on the boards, Dodge, until he brings the donkey round. Bertie tells me you think painting disagrees with you."
"Yes, sir, I am sure it does. I half promised my mother never to do another day's work at it; but when Torrey was hurt I couldn't refuse Mr. Fuller; he's been a good friend to me in times past."
"What would you choose for an employment?"
"Out— door work, sir, was what I was brought up to. I shall try to get something at that. There's nothing more healthy for the lungs than being over horses and cattle."
The gentleman noticed that the effort of talking seemed to give the man pain, and instantly checked him from saying more.
"You must stop at once," he urged in a firm voice. "Such warnings as that," pointing to the blood-stained handkerchief, "are not to be trifled with. I shall send a physician to see you; and I will talk with you again."
At noon Mr. Curtis found that the woman who boarded Mr. Dodge couldn't keep him while he was sick; and arrangements were made at once to remove him to the chamber in Mrs. Taylor's farm-house which Patrick Riley had left.
The next day he was so much worse that his mother was sent for; and thus an acquaintance commenced which continued for life.
