The question found Katherine unprepared; she winced, then hesitated, not knowing what to say.  He saw the trouble in her eyes, and paused with the pencil held between two fingers.  “I am not asking from any desire to know the nature of the worry, if there was one; that would be quite immaterial in its effect on the issues.  The thing that counts is to know if he were suffering from acute mental torture.  If this be so, then it probably accounts for the seizure, and leaves him with a fair hope of recovery to a limited extent.  If, on the other hand, his mind was perfectly placid and peaceful, then I am afraid you must expect the end in a few days, or a week at the furthest, for that would mean that nature is completely worn out, instead of just broken down by worry.”

Katherine was white to the lips, and her voice sank to a whisper as she faltered:  “Yes, he had acute anxiety, and a worry which wore him all the more because he hid it so carefully; but none of the others knew about it, only myself.”

“Thank you! that sets matters on a more satisfactory basis,” he said, “and I feel sure we shall see improvement in a few days.”

“Will you please not mind telling the others what you have told me about the causes of his condition?” Katherine asked hurriedly.  “Miles and Phil are so young, while Mrs. Burton has had too many troubles of her own.  That was why Father talked more freely to me.”

“There is no need to speak of it any more,” he answered, with reassuring kindness.  “Now I want to know what arrangements we can make about the sickroom.  Do you think the boys can sleep in the loft?  Or, if that is too cold, shall we give them a shakedown here in the store?”

“I don’t think the loft will be cold now the frost has gone,” Katherine answered.  “But Mrs. Burton meant that for you, because it is really the only quiet place we have.”

“I am going to sit up with your father for the next few nights, but I can get a nap in the loft during the day.  When my feet are better I shall have to be away in the boats a great deal, but until then I can be nurse in chief, and so free Mrs. Burton’s hands for her other work,” he said, gripping the needs of the situation as plainly as if he had known them all for months instead of hours.

“I had meant to stay with Father to-night,” said Katherine, flushing a little, and not feeling quite certain whether she entirely approved of having matters taken out of her hands in this fashion.

“That would not do at all.  You will have to be business head of the establishment now for a permanency, and the sooner you get your shoulders fitted to the burden the better,” he said decidedly.

“But I have practically been the business head all the winter, so the burden is familiar already,” she protested, with a wan smile and a sinking at her heart, for she did not like business, and always shrank from the bother of bargaining, which afforded such keen zest to some people’s buying and selling.