Mehetabel, usually reserved and silent, had become loquacious and rambling in her talk. It was but too obvious, that she was in a fever, and wandering. Mrs. Chivers insisted on her taking some tea, and then she helped her upstairs to the little bedroom, and did not leave her till she was asleep. The school children, who came in after their dinner hour, were dismissed, so that Mrs. Chivers had the afternoon to devote to the care of the child and of the sick mother, who was in high fever.
She was in the bedroom when she heard a knock at the door, and then a heavy foot below. She descended the rickety stairs as gently as possible, and found Farmer Colpus in the schoolroom.
"How do you do, Mrs. Chivers? Can you tell me, is Matabel Kink here?"
"Yes—if you do not mind, Mr. Colpus, to speak a little lower. She is in bed and asleep."
"Asleep?"
"She came in at noon, rather excited and queer, and her hand burnin' like a hot chestnut, so I gave her a dish o' tea and sent her upstairs. I thought it might be fever—and her eyes were that strange and unsteady—"
"It is rather odd," said the constable, "but my daughter observed how calm and clear her eye was—only an hour before."
"Maybe," said Mrs. Chivers, "and yet she was that won'erful wanderin' in her speech—"
"You don't think she was shamming?"
"Shammin'! Lord, sir—that Matabel never did, and I've knowed her since she was two-year old. At three and a half she comed to my school."