AtthefurtherendoftheroomShock’seyesfelluponadoor，throughthecracksofwhichalightwasshining。
\"Itispossible，\"saidShock，\"heisinthatroom，\"pointingtothedoor。
\"Hardly，mydearsir，hardly。\"
Butevenashespokeavoice，loudandclear，rangout。\"Now，mydearfellow，gotothedeuce。Thatcomestome。\"
ThereplyShockcouldnotcatch。
\"Ithink，\"hesaid，turningtoSmiley，\"weshallfindMr。Stantoninthere。\"
Ashespokehewalkedtowardthedoor。ButSmileyslippedbeforehim。
\"Pardonme，mydearsir，thatisaprivateroom——somefriendsofminewhowouldgreatlydislikebeingdisturbed。IamexceedinglysorryIcannotobligeyou。\"
\"ImustseeMr。Stanton\"，saidShock，puttinghishanduponthedoorknob。
\"Mydearsir，\"saidSimmons，histhinlipsdrawnbackoverhisyellowteeth，\"Iregrettosayitisimpossible。IfMr。Stantonisinthere——markme，IsayIFheisinthere，whichisextremelyunlikely——butifheisinthere，hewouldbeveryunwillingtobedisturbedatthishour。However，sinceyouaresoanxious，Ishalltakehimamessage。\"
AsSmileysaidthishebowedwithanairofgraciouscondescension，asifheexpectedShocktobeprofoundlyimpressedwiththisconcessiontohispersistence。ButShockwasnotatallimpressed。
\"Icannotwaitlonger，\"hesaid。\"Itisamatteroflifeanddeath。
Imustenterthatroom。\"
\"Mydearsir，\"saidSimmons，rubbinghishands，hissmilebecomingmoreandmoreexpansive，\"thisismyhouse，thatdoorismydoor。Ifyoubreakit，Ishouldbegrievedtohavetoexactthefullpenaltyofthelaw。\"
Shockhesitated。Hehadneverwillinglybrokenalawinhislife。Itwouldbeamostunfortunatebeginningforhismissioninthistown，and，afterall，whatbusinesshadhetointerfere？Ifthisyoungfoolwasdeterminedtowastehismoney，lethimdoso。
ButhethoughtofIke，andtheentreatyinhisvoiceashewhisperedouthisbrokenwords，andhethoughtofthelookofreverenceandloveonthelad’sfacethatafternoonwhenhegavehistoast，\"Mymother？Godblessher！\"Shock’sfacesethard。
\"Imustseehim，\"hesaidsimply，butwithsuchanairofdeterminationthatSimmonsweakened。
\"Well，ifyouwaitafewminutes，\"repliedSmiley，\"Iwillseeifhewillspeaktoyou。\"
ShockwaitedtillSmileyopenedthedoor，whereupon，steppingquicklyforward，hesethisfootagainstthelowerpanelandpushedthedoorwideopen。
Inasmallroom，bareoffurnitureexceptfortablesandchairsandahanginglamp，satfourmen，ofwhomShockrecognisedtwo。TheKidwasone，andMacfarrentheother。Acrossthetablefromthesesattwomen，onebyhisuniformtheInspectoroftheMountedPolice。ThefaceoftheotherhadtoShockafamiliarlook，butwherehehadseenhimhecouldnotremember。
AsShockopenedthedoorthemaninuniformstartedupwithanoath，andMacfarrenblewoutthelight。
\"What’sthatfor，Macfarren？\"saidTheKid。
\"Shutup，youfool，\"growledMacfarren。
\"Whatdidyousay，sir？\"enquiredTheKid，inavoicesomewhatthickandunsteady。
\"Gethimoutofhere，\"saidMacfarren，inalowtone。
\"IwanttohaveafewwordswithMr。Stanton，\"saidShock，standinginthedoorway。
\"Hereyouare。Fireaway，\"repliedtheboy。\"Thelightisnotgood，butIcanhearinthedark。\"
\"Youarewanted，Mr。Stanton，veryearnestlybyafriendofyours。\"
\"Lethimwalkrightinifhewantsme，\"repliedTheKid。
\"Thathecannotdo。Heisveryill。\"
\"Ah！whoishe，mayIask？\"enquiredStanton，strikingamatch。
Itwaspromptlyblownout。
\"Iwouldn’tdothatagain，\"hesaidgently。\"Whoisit？\"herepeated，striking。anothermatchandlightingthelamp。
\"ItisIke，\"saidShock。\"Heisveryill——dying，forallIknow，andhewantsyou。\"
ForanswertherewasacontemptuouslaughfromtheMountedPoliceman，inwhichMacfarrenjoined。
\"Rathergoodthat，\"saidMacfarren。
\"Excuseme，gentlemen，\"saidtheboy，makingastrenuousefforttopullhimselftogether。\"Ihatetoleavethisgoodcompany，butI
mustgo。IhappentopayIkewages，butheismyfriend。Hehasaskedforme，andIamgoingtohim。\"
\"Oh，blankitall！Don’tbeafool，\"saidthepoliceman。\"Ike’sallright。Hehasbeentakinganextradrink，butyoucan’tkillIke。
Waitforhalfanhour，andwe’llgodownandseehowheis。\"
Theyoungladhesitated。ThestrangermadeasignaltoSmiley，andsuddenlyShockfoundhimself;pushedbackwardfromtheentrance，andthedoorslammedinhisface。
\"Openthatdoor！\"heheardTheKidcry。
Therewasamurmurinresponse。
\"Openit，Isay，Simmons。\"
Againamurmur。
\"No，Iamgoing。Iwillgomyself。Ikewantsme。\"Theboy’svoicewasloudandhard。
\"That’smine，\"thevoicecriedagain。\"Letthatgoatonce！\"
Therewasasoundofscufflingandoffallingchairs。WithakickShocksentthedoorflyingopen，andsawthreemenstrugglingwithStanton。Smileyhadwoundhislongarms，abouthimfrombehind，theInspectorheldhisarminafirmgripwithonehandandwiththeotherhadholdofthestranger，whohadTheKidbythethroat。
Macfarrenwasstillatthetable，evidentlygatheringupwhatlayuponit。
InaninstantShocksprangintothefray。WithasinglejerkhetoreSmileyfromhisvictimandflunghimonthefloor。Reachingforthestranger，whowaschokingTheKid，hecaughthiswristandgaveitaslightturn。WithayellofpainthestrangerturneduponhimandaimedablowatShock’sface。Catchingtheblowonhisarm，Shockseizedhisassailantbytheshoulder，jerkedhimclearofhisfeet，andflunghimfarintothecorneroftheroom。Atthisthepolicemanimmediatelygaveback。
ForafewsecondsTheKidstoodswayingunsteadily。Then，afterherecoveredhisbreathheturnedtoShockandsaid，\"Ihardlyexpectedtoeverfeelgratefultoyou，butIassureyouIappreciateyourtimelyhelp。\"
Thenturningtotheothers，andregaininghiswontedsmileandeasymanner，hecontinued，\"Gentlemen，youaresomewhatinsistentinyourhospitality。Itisalwaysinstructive，andsometimespleasant，toextendourknowledgeofourfriends，andnowletmesaythatamoreblackguardlylotofthievesIhavenevermet，andifthisgentlemanwhohasdroppedinsoopportunelywillkindlystandatmybackforafewminutes，I
shallbedelightedtomakegoodmywordsbyslappingyourfaces\"TheKid’stonewaslowandgentle，evensweet。
\"Mr。Macfarren，yourvenerablebeardpreventsme。Simmons，yourgeneralsliminessprotectsyou，butasforyou，InspectorHaynes，itgivesmegreatpleasuretoexpressmyopinionofyou——thus！\"
HisopenhandflashedoutashespokeandcaughtHaynesonthecheekastingingblow。
WithanoaththeInspectorjerkedouthispistolandsprangathim。
\"Iarrestyou，sir，inthenameoftheQueen。Moveyourhandandyouareadeadman。\"
\"Sobeyou，Mr。Inspector，\"drawledaquietvoiceinthedoor。
Shockturned，andtohisunspeakableamazementsawhissickfriendstandingwithhisguncoveringtheInspector。
\"Onestepback，please，Mr。Inspector。Quick！Thistriggergoesmightyeasy。Now，rightwheel！\"
TheInspectorhesitatedasecond。\"Quick！\"criedIkesharply。\"Don’tyoufooltoolongobeyin’orders。Iaintusedtoit。I’mhereexercisin’apublicfunction，preventin’murder，inshort，andI’lldropyouinyourtracksifyoudon’tmoveatthenextword。Youhereme？Andifyoudon’tintendtomoveatthenextword，sayyourprayersinthisinterval。Nowthen，backuptothattableandputdownthatgun。Correct。Verynice，indeed。\"
Ike’svoicetookonmoreandmoreofitscustomarydrawl。
\"Now，twostepsforward。Right。Now，youcan——go——to——the——devil！\"
Ikesteppedtothetable，tookupthepistol，andreturnedtohisplaceatthedoor，saying:
\"Say，boss，thisprayermeetin’sover。Let’sgohome。\"
\"NotuntiltheInspectorsaysso，\"saidTheKid，whohadrecoveredhimself，andwhowasnowquitesober。\"Hehasthewordnow，Ikey，sodon’tinterfere。\"
\"Allright，Kiddie，playyourgame。You’reequivalenttoit，I
surmise。\"
\"Ithinkso，\"saidtheKidsweetly。Then，turningtotheInspector，hecontinuedinavoiceofgentleconsideration，\"Thereissomethingonyourcheek，InspectorHaynes。Youhavenotobservedit。Allowmetopointitouttoyou。\"
Hemovedforwardashespoke，butShockinterposed。
\"Ithinkthatisenough，Mr。Stanton，\"hesaid。
\"Letthematterdropnow。\"
Theboyturnedquickly，andlookingsteadilyintoShock’sface，beganinaquiet，evenvoice，\"Mr。——ah\"
\"Macgregor，\"suppliedShock。
\"Mr。Macgregor，youareastranger。Inthiscountryinamatterofthiskindweneverallowinterference。\"
\"Andyet，\"saidShockinavoiceequallyquiet，\"interferenceisnotunwelcomeattimes。\"
\"Whatyousayisquitetrue，\"repliedtheboy，\"and，asIhavesaid，Iamnotungratefulforyourtimelyassistance。\"
\"Oh，IwasthinkingofIke，\"saidShockhurriedly。
\"Butsurelyyouwillletthismatterdropnow。\"
\"Drop！\"roaredtheInspector。\"Blankyourimpudence！Hehascalledmeathief，andhehasslappedmyfacewhiledoingmyduty。Iwillhavethelotofyouarrestedforinterferencewithjustice。Andasforyou，Stanton，weshallsettlethisagain。\"
Sosaying，theInspectormadeforthedoor。AtthedoorIkestillstoodonguard。
\"Whenyouwantme，Mr。Inspector，\"hesaid，\"don’thaveanydelinquencyinsendin’forme。IsurmiseIcancontributesomevaluableevidenceonthepointofguns，games，andsuch。\"
TheInspectorglaredathim。
\"I’lltakemygun，\"hesaid。
\"Yourgun？Why，cert！Didyoudropitsomewheres？Perhapsifyoulookroundwhenthelight’sgoodyou’llfindit。Slimey，here，willhelpyou。I’mprettynighcertainyou’llextraditethatweaponinthemorning。Good—night。\"
WithacursetheInspectorpassedout。
\"Now，Ikey，\"saidTheKidcoolly，\"standaside，forthereisacurherethathadtheaudacitytothrottleme。\"
WiththesewordshesprangpastShock，seizedthestrangerbythethroat，cuffedhimwithhisopenhand，anddragginghimtothedoorsenthimforthwithapartingkickandauimprecation。
\"Now，Macfarren，\"hesaid，turningtothatgentleman，whostillsatbythetable，\"youhavesomemoneynotbelongingtoyou。Putitonthetable。\"
Withoutamoment’shesitationMacfarrenhastilypouredforthfromhispocketpoker—chips，goldpieces，andbills。
\"Iassureyou，Mr。Stanton，\"hehurriedtosay，\"Iwassimplyholdingthemtillthe——ahtroubleshouldbeover。\"
\"Thatwasmostkind，\"repliedStanton。\"Ihavenoveryclearremembrance，butIwasundertheimpressionthatitwasyoursuggestiontolockthedoor。\"
Ashespokehesweptthemoneyintohispocket。
\"Certainly，butmyonlyintentionwastokeepbutah——strangersand—
—intruders。Youknow，Mr。Stanton，Iwouldbenopartytorobbery，and，indeed，Idonotbelieve’foramomentthatanyrobberywasintended。ItwasanunfortunateeagernessonthepartofCrawleytosecurehiswinningsthatprecipitatedthetrouble。Ireallyhopeyoudonotthinkmecapableofanythingofthesort。\"
Macfarren’smannerwasabject，buthistonewasevidentlysincere。
\"Youwereunfortunateinyourcompany，then，Mr。Macfarren。Comeon，Ike。Wearedonewiththisgang。LuckyIwasnotquiteslewed，ormy，creditorswouldhavebeeninmourningto—morrow。Mr。Macgregor，wheredoyouputup？\"
\"He’swithmeto—night，\"saidIke，\"andamightyfortunatecircumstanceitwasforusall。Thisherebusinesshadgotbeyondmycapabilities……Someofusneedakeeper。\"
\"That’sme，Ikey。Yes，Iknow。Rubitin。It’sakeeperIneed。
Well，IgiveyoumywordIamdonewiththisgang。Fool！Fool！\"hecontinuedbitterly，\"acursedfool，Ikey。Threeyearsofitnow。\"
\"That’swhat，\"saidIkey，leadingthewaydownthestreet。\"Forthepasttwoyears，boss，youknowyou’vebeatme。ThoughIdon’tholdmyselfoutasnosortofparadox——\"
\"Paragon，Ikey，\"saidTheKid，withagentlelaugh。Healwaysfoundhiscowboy’sEnglishamusing。
\"Paragon，eh？Well，allthesame，Iaintnosortofparagon，butI
knowwheretostop，\"
\"Wherearewenow，Ike？Attheendoftherope，eh？\"
\"No，bythelivin’Gimmini！butgettin’thereonthejump，\"saidIke，withgraveemphasis。
WithoutfurtherconversationtheymadetheirwaythroughthedarkstreetstilltheyreachedIke’sshack。
Thedoctorlaystillasleepinthecorner。
\"Hekidnappedhim，\"wasIke’sexplanationtoTheKid，noddinghisheadtowardShock。\"SoI’dadvisethatyouhitchontothepreacherhereforaperiod。Givehimthejobofwindin’youup。\"
\"Couldyouundertakethat，doyouthink？\"Therewasacurioussmileontheboy’sface，butanundertoneofseriousnessinhisvoice。
\"No，\"saidShockgravely，\"Icouldnotundertakethat。\"
\"Yousee，Ike，Iamtoouncertain。Toofargone，Iguess。\"
Ikewastoopuzzledtoreply。HehadakindofdimideathatinShocktherewassomehelpforhisboss，andhewasdisappointedatShock’sanswer。
ForsometimeShocksatinsilence，lookingatthefire。Hisheartwassore。Hefelthishelplessness。Thisclever，gay—heartedyoungfellow，withallhisgentlenessofmanner，wasunapproachable。Hebelongedtoanotherworld，andyetShockyearnedoverhimwithatendernessinexplicabletohimself。TheKidgavehimnoopening。
Therewasakindofgaydefianceinhisbearing，asifhehadreadShock’sheartandweredeterminedtokeephimatarm’slength。
InstinctivelyShockknewthathemustwaithisopportunity。
\"Well，guesswe’dbetterturnin，\"suggestedIke。\"Canyoutwobunktogether？Thatbed’llholdyouboth，Iguess。\"
\"No，thanks，\"saidShockdecidedly。\"Thatisyourbed。I’llspreadmyblanketsonthefloor。\"
\"Inthiscountry，\"saidStanton，\"wegivethestrangerthebed，soyouneednotscrupletoturnIkeoutofhis。IkeandIwilltakethefloor。\"
\"Notthistime，\"saidShockfirmly。\"Iamthankfulenoughforshelter，withouttakingaman’sbed。Besides，\"headded，suddenlyremembering，\"Ikeneedshisbedto—night，afterhissickturn。\"
\"Yes，byJove！Bytheway，\"exclaimedStanton，\"whathappened，Ike？\"
\"Asuddenandunexpectedpredispositionwhichtakesmenowandthen，\"turninghisbackuponShockandsolemnlywinkingatTheKid;
\"butIrecoverjustasquickly，andwhenIdoI’masslickasever，andslicker。Thesehereturnsworkoffalotofbadblood，Iguess。\"
DuringhisspeechhecontinuedwinkingatTheKid。Thatyounggentlemangazedathiminamazedsilence。Gradually，alightbrokeinuponhim。
\"Lookhere，Ike，whatinthunderdoyoumean？\"
\"Isay，boss，\"saidIkepersuasively，\"justgoeasy。Yououghn’ttoexciteyourself。’Taintgoodforyou，and’taintgoodforme，either。Mydoctorsaysso。Iwouldn’tpersecuteyourenquiriesatthislatehourofthenight。\"
Ike’sgravitywasimperturbable。
\"Well，Ibeblanked！Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Macgregor。Ike，you’reacoolone。You’vegotthenerveof\"HereTheKidbegantolaugh，andShock，allunsuspectingofIke’sschemeforgettinghisbossoutoftheclutchesofhisspoilers，gazedfromtheonetotheotherwithanairofsuchabsoluteperplexitythatTheKidwentoffintoimmoderatefitsoflaughter。Ike’sgravityremainedunbroken。
\"Allthesame，boss，\"hesaid，\"youwanttokeepaneyeonthatoutfit。They’llgeteven。ThatmanCrawleyandtheInspectoraintgoin’toresteasy。wheretheyare。Markslikewhatyouputon’emburntothebone。\"
\"Theycannothurtme，Ike，\"saidtheKidlightly，\"andIthinktheywillbeafraidtotry。ButMr。Macgregorherehasgotintotrouble。
IsnotMacfarrenachurchwarden，orsomething，inyourChurch？\"
\"Heisamanager，Ithink，\"saidShock。\"Prettymuchthesamething。\"
\"Well，heisamantolookoutfor。Icangetalongwithouthim，butyoucannot，canyou？Imean，hecanhurtyou。\"
\"No，\"saidShockquietly，\"hecannothurtme。Theonlymanthatcanhurtmeismyself。Noothermancan。Andbesides，\"headded，pullingalittleBibleoutofhispocket，\"IhaveaKeeper，asIkesaid。\"
AsShockopenedthelittleBiblehebecameconsciousofasenseofmastery。Hisopportunityhadcome。
\"Listentothis，\"hesaid，andhereadinavoiceofassuredconviction:\"TheLordisthykeeper。
TheLordshallkeeptheefromallevil。
Heshallkeepthysoul。
TheLordshallkeepthygoingoutandthycomingin。
Fromthistimeforthandforevermore。\"
Heclosedthebookandputitinhispocket。
\"No，\"hesaid，\"nomancanhurtme。\"ThenturningtoIkehesaidquietly，\"Ialwayssaymyprayers。Mymotherstartedmetwenty—fiveyearsago，andIhaveneverseenanyreasontoquit。\"
Whilehistonewasgentleandhismannersimple，therewasalmostachallengeinhiseyes。ThefairfaceofyoungStantonflushedthroughthetan。
\"Youdoyourmotherhonour，\"hesaid，withquietdignity。
\"Isay，\"saidIkeslowly，\"ifyoukindoitjustasconvenient，perhapsyou’dsay’emout。Wouldn’tdousnoharm，eh，Kiddie？\"
\"No，Ishouldbepleased。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidShock。ThenforamomenthestoodlookingfirstatIke’sgraveface，andthenatTheKid，outofwhoseblueeyesallthegay，recklessdefiancehadvanished。
\"Don’timagineIthinkmyselfabitbetterthanyou，\"saidShockhastily，voiceandlipquivering。
\"Oh，gitout！\"ejaculatedIkequickly。\"Thataintsense。\"
\"But，\"continuedShock，\"perhapsIhavehadalittlebetterchance。
CertainlyIhavehadagoodmother。\"
\"AndI，too，\"saidtheboy，inahuskyvoice。
SothethreekneeledtogetherinIke’sshack，eachwonderinghowithadcomeaboutthatitshouldseemsonaturalandeasyforhimtobeinthatattitude。
InavoicesteadyandcontrolledShockmadehisprayer。Humilityandgratitudeforallthathadbeendoneforhiminhislife，anoverwhelmingsenseofneedforthelifedemandedinthisGod—
forgettingcountry，andagreatloveandcompassionforthetwomenwithwhomhehadsostrangelybeenbroughtintosuchcloserelationswelledinhisheartandvibratedthroughhisprayer。
Ike’sfaceneverlostitsimpassivegravity。Whatevermayhavebeenhisfeelings，hegavenosignofemotion。ButtheladthatkneeledontheothersideofShockpressedhisfacedownhardintohishands，whilehisframeshookwithchoking，silentsobs。Allthatwasholiestandtenderestinhispastcamecrowdinginuponhim，insadandterriblecontrasttohispresent。
ImmediatelyaftertheprayerShockslippedoutoftheshack。
\"Isay，boss，\"saidIke，ashepokedthefire，\"he’sawinner，ainthe？Guesshehitstheskyallright，whenhegetsontohisknees。Bythelivin’Gimmini！whenthatfellergitsa—goin’heraisesconsiderableofapromotion。\"
\"Commotion，Ikey，\"saidTheKidgently。\"Yes，Ibelievehehitsthesky——andhesaysheneedsaKeeper。\"
\"Well，\"saidIkesolemnly，\"Ihavealingerin’suspicionthatyou’recorrect，butifheneedsaKeeper，whataboutus？\"
XIII
THEPRESIDENTOFGUY’S，LONDON
Dr。BurtonwasneverquiteclearastohowhehadfoundhimselfintheearlymorningontheLoonLaketrail，withamanwhomhehadneverseenbefore，norhow，afterhehaddiscoveredhimselfinthatposition，hehadbeenpersuadedtocontinuehisjourney，muchlesstotakeupwithsuchenthusiasmthetreatmentofthecasestowhichhehadbeensummonedbythatsamestranger。Indeed，hedidnotcometoaclearconsciousnessofhissayingsanddoingsuntilhefoundhimselfseatedatamostcomfortablebreakfastinthehouseoftheOldProspector，withthissamestrangegentlemansittingoppositehim。Eventhen，beforereachingasolutionoftheproblemastohowhehadarrivedatthatparticularplaceandinthatparticularcompany，tohisamazementhefoundhimselfinterestedinthediscussionofthecasesonhand。
WiththeOldProspectorhehadlittledifficulty。Inflammatoryrheumatism，withacomplicationofpneumonia;initselfnotnecessarilyfatal，orevendangerous，butwithamanoftheOldProspector’sageandhabitsoflifethiscomplicationmightanymomentbecomeserious。Heleftsomemedicine，orderednourishingfood，perfectrestandquiet，andwasabouttodepart。
\"HowsoonshallIbeup，doctor？\"enquiredtheOldProspector。
\"Iwouldn’tworry。\"
\"Aweek？\"
\"Aweek！Ifyouareonyourlegsinamonthyoumaybethankful。\"
\"Doctor，\"saidtheOldProspectorinatoneofquietresolution，\"itisvitallyimportantthat。Ishouldbeonmyjourneysoonerthanamonth。Mybusinessadmitsofnodelay。\"
\"Well，\"saidthedoctorinhiscourteous，gentletone，\"ifyoumoveyouwilllikelydie。\"
\"IshallcertainlydieifIdonot。\"
ForoncetheOldProspectorbrokethroughhiswontedphilosophiccalm。Hisvoicetrembled，andhiseyesglitteredinhisexcitement。
\"Well，well，\"saidthedoctorsoothingly，notingthesesymptoms，\"waitaweekorso。Followthedirectionscarefully，andweshallsee。\"
\"Ishallwaitaweek，doctor，butnolonger。IntendaysIshallbeonthetrail。\"
\"Well，well，\"repeatedthedoctor，lookingkeenlyintotheoldman’sface，\"wewon’tworryaboutitforaweek。\"
\"No;foraweekIamcontent。\"
LeavingtheOldProspector’sshackShockconductedthedoctortothelittleroomatthebackoftheStoppingPlacewherelittlePatsylay。Atthedoortheyweremetbythemother，vociferouswithlamentations，prayers，blessings，andentreaties。Withintheroom，seatedbesidethebed，wasCarroll，gloomyandtaciturn。
Thedoctordrewbacktheblindandletinthemorninglight。ItshowedpoorlittlePatsy，paleandwasted，hisangelicfacesurroundedwithagoldenaureoleofyellowcurlsthatfloatedacrossthewhitepillow。Thedoctorwasstartledandmoved。
\"Whatisthis？\"hecried。\"Whatisthematter？\"
\"Justanaccident，doctor，\"saidMrs。Carrollvolubly。\"Itwasablowhegot。\"
\"Istruckhimwidachair，\"saidCarrollbitterly。
\"Whisht，now，darlin’。You’renottobeblamin’yourselfatall，atall。Sure，youdidn’tmanetodoit。Andwhat’sabitofdiscoosionbetweenmen？ThelittlePatsy，thebravelittleheartthatheis，runintohelphisdad，sohedid！\"AndMrs。Carrollcontinuedwithadescriptionwhichbecamemoreandmoreincoherentandmoreandmorebrokenwithsobsandtears。
\"It’sawonderhedidn’tkillhim，\"saidthedoctor。