Birds of Prey

rnings, let them ripen into never such balmy days; and with the dawn Nancy Woolper c

tarted from an

ce. The hearty old woman, whose face had been like a hard rosy apple shrivelled and wrinkled by long keeping, had now a white and ghastly look which struck terror to Georgy's breast. She who was usual

and - I've been, worrying myself about Mr. Halliday. If I were you, I'd call in another doctor. Never mind what Mr. Philip says. He may be mistaken, you know, clever as he is. There's no telling. Take my advice, Miss Ge

so much worse? You have not been with him all night; and he has b

tor at once. Mr. Sheldon is a light sleeper. I'll go to his room and tell him you'

y too ready to take alarm under the influence of a strong

wake the next minute after his housekeeper's light knock had sounded on the door. In less than five minutes he came out of his

o tell me that?

es

e want this new d

ely, if p

his time, and the morning

orbid that I should stand between my old friend and any chance of his speedy recov

ted the cup almost mechanically from her hand, and took it into the parlour, whither Nancy followed him. Then for the first time he perceived that change in his houseke

entist, gravely scrutinising the woman's face

een rather queer all night

ck yourself up." "No; it's not that, Mr. Philip. There's not many can stand hard work better

to ill-use your digestive powers at your age. What was it? Hard cold meat

I made for poor Mr. Halliday. And that oughtn'

a little bit of vulgar ignorance, Mrs. Woolper. I suppo

you took it up wit

influences as I do, you'd know that food which has been standing for hours in the pestilential

answered the Yorkshirewoman, with a

hen. Don't take anything more th

l be any chance of my

do you

. Halliday is lon

men are alw

oor helpless creature upstairs. Think, Mr. Philip, how you and him used to be friends and playfellows - brothers al

ring this conversation; and now for the first time he looked at

at has my roof to do with Tom Halliday's illness - or his death, if it came to that? And wh

sweetheart that was, and him having no other doctor, folks

was a baby, had presumed to talk to me as you have been talking to me just this minute, I should open the door yonder and tell her to walk out of my h

hat of a man who has occasion to reprove an old and trusted servant for an unwarrantable impertinence. Nancy Woolper stood

he muttered to hersel

Halliday, and departed, after promising to send a saline draught. Poor Georgy's spirits, which had revived a little under the influence of the stranger's hopeful words, sank again when s

eeks. He looked like some fresh young neophyte in the awful mysteries of medical science, and by no means the sort of man to whom one would have imagined Philip Sheldon appealing

rgina said regretfully, af

e dentist cheerfully; "medical science is eminently prog

of believing what people told her; so she accepted Mr. Sheldon's opinion. How could she d

better this morning,

d by the curtain of the heavy o

t I shall venture to give him a few business letters that

f the bed, and waited quietly f

ay," he said presently; "hadn't you better go down and t

ny breakfast," Georgi

e yourself an invalid, if you are not careful;

r husband. She had forgotten all the throes and tortures of jealousy which she had endured on his account. She had forgotten his late hours and unholy roisterings. She had forgott

e room, searching for writing materials. He found a little portfolio of Georgina's, and a frivolous-minded inkstand, after the semblance of an apple, with a gilt stalk and leaflet. The dentist too

presently, and recognised hi

el to-day - a little better I hear fr

t more than a shade better. It always stops at that. The little woman can't co

ourself for a week or two when you get about again."

soon after my marriage. Old Cradock never let me rest till that was done. So Georgy will be all safe. But when a man has led a careless, godless kind of a life - doing very little harm, perhaps, but doing no particular good - he ought to set about making up his account somehow for a better world, when he feels himself slipping out of this. I asked Georgy for her Bible yesterday, and the poor dear loving litt

has not been accustomed to illness is sure to

ree weeks," murmured Mr.

ing you round in three days, and then you'll

n it's my own constitution that's in fault. As to that young man you brought here just now

self this morning. You are so much improved that I may venture to talk to you about business. There have been some letters lying about for the last few

t which the dentist had taken from his bre

come, come, old fellow! That's giving way, you know. The letters may be i

ldon. I'm past making efforts. Can't you see th

ne with the seal of the Alliance Insurance O

ent, startled into new life; but he sank back on t

ce is settled and done with, when he has been pommelled about by the doctors and approved by the board. He forgets there's that little matter of th

regard for his friend's interest, he had manipulated so cleverly on t

' grace expire to-day. You'd better write me a check at once, and

of that coat ha

apple. He adjusted the writing materials for the sick man's use with womanly gentleness. His arm supported the wasted frame, as Tom Halliday slowly and labor

ip of paper and handed it to his friend. "It was kind of you to jog my memory about this business. I'm such

e, Tom;

come into this room the night before last, when Georgy was

"not the nigh

t night then, Phil, for I fancied I saw you; and I fancied I heard th

dreaming

wits about me, I'd better say what I've been wanting to say ever so long. You've been a good and kind friend to me all through this illness, Phil, and I'm not ungrateful for your kindness. If it does come to the worst with me - as I

a moment's pause, Philip Sheldon clasped it in his own muscular fi

e before him suddenly, as if written in letters of fire on the wall opposite to h

eth straightway to him, and saith

ve that this new adviser was in some manner at fault; and she began to think that Philip Sheldon was right, and that regular practitioners were very stupid creatures. She communic

with the dignity of an offended man. "You must now abide by his treatment, and c

the sick-chamber now; for Nancy Woolper rarely left it, and rarely closed her eyes. It was altogether a sad time in the dentist's house; and Tom Halliday apologised to his friend more than

Mr. Burkham, the Bloomsbury surgeon, as the greatest and ablest of men. Those shadows of doubt and perplex

but that gentleman made very light of his fears. As the two men discussed the case, it was very evident that the irregular practitioner was quite a match for the regular one. Mr.

take? If I am right, I should be a villain to let things go on.

ned and retraced his steps in the direction of Fitzgeorge-street. But after all this hesitation he walked home, and ate his dinner very thoughtfully, answering his young wife at random when

to-day, I'm sure, Harry," his wi

e rather a difficult case in Fitzgeo

om alone, brooding over that difficult case in Fitzgeorge-street. After spending nearly an hour thus,

ed rapidly in the direction of Mr. Sheldon's house. "The case may be straight en

o sent a sudden chill to his heart. But the April sunshine was full upon that side of the street, and there might lie no signific

he surgeon; "and I have come to the conclusion that I ought to confer with a man of h

y gravely, "if you had suggested it sooner. I am sorry to say the sugge