never mind.  Then I said in my heart, “God help me to be more thankful,” and with brimming eyes I caught both Hal’s hands in my own, and looked in his flushed face, trying vainly to catch a look of recognition.  He did not know me.  Louis had kindly stepped aside to give me all the room, but he watched me closely, and caught me as I staggered backward feeling all the strength go suddenly from my limbs, while from my lips came the words which burned into my soul, “He will die.”  I had never in my life fainted, and did not now.  Louis drew a little flask of brandy from his pocket and forced a few drops into my mouth.  My will came back to me, and in a few moments I could think a little.  “A doctor, Louis, oh! where is there one—­what shall we do?” Even as I spoke, Hal’s employer entered and with him Dr. Selden.  The merchant did not come as near to me as did the old doctor with his good-natured, genial face, and quiet but elastic step.  I forgot everything but the sufferer, and turned to him with upraised hands and streaming eyes, saying: 

“Oh! tell me quickly what to do, don’t let him die, he has a good home and friends, we love him dearly, help me to get him there,” adding, in answer to his look of inquiry, “I am his sister, and this gentleman,” turning to Louis, “is our friend Mr. Desmonde.”

The doctor laid his hand on my head and said: 

“I have not seen the patient before; an examination will doubtless help me to answer your question, and to give you the help you ask.  Rest yourself, Miss, you will soon need a physician’s aid yourself,” and he drew a chair close to the foot of the bed for me.  Then he felt Hal’s pulse, stroked his head a little, and sat quietly down at the foot of the bed just opposite me, and laid one hand over Hal’s heart, leaning forward a little, and looking as if half mystified.  The few minutes we sat there seemed to me an hour, waiting, as it seemed, for decision between life and death.  Suddenly Halbert sprang up and shouted: 

“Here! here! this way, almost finished—­hold my heart—­hold it still; I’ll make Emily’s eyes snap when I get home, ha, ha!” and then a sort of gurgling sound filled his throat, and he placed both hands over his chest, and sank back, while for an instant all the blood left his face.  I put my hand into Louis’, and groaned, trying hard to control myself, for I knew we were close to the shadows, and perhaps, “Oh, yes,” I comfortingly thought, “perhaps we need not pass through them all.”

Doctor Selden moved to the head of his bed, and held both hands on Hal’s temples; for a few moments it seemed as if no one breathed, then Hal drew a long breath as if he were inhaling something, and whispered: 

“That feels good; my head is tired, tired, tired.”

This gave me courage.  It seemed then as if he were feeling the power of an uplifting hand, and soon—­

“Emily, Emily!” passed his lips.  “Tell her to come to me, she will help me, tell her to come.”  Then for a few moments all was still, and he slept.  Dr. Selden looked at me with hope in his eyes, and tears of gratitude gathered to run like a river of rain drops over my cheeks.  He slept twenty minutes, and as he stirred the doctor motioned me to come where he could see me.  His eyes opened and met mine.