344 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



civilized man of not appearing coatless before a woman 

 he respects. 



"Amos Opie is very ill, I'm afraid," she said gravely, 

 without the least self- consciousness or thought of 

 intrusion. 



"Shall I go for the doctor?" said The Man, reaching 

 for his hat and at the same time opening the long cup- 

 board by the chimney, from which he took a leather- 

 covered flask. 



"No, not yet; please come and look at him. Yes, 

 I want you very much!" This in answer to a ques- 

 tioning look in his eyes. 



Standing together by the bed, they saw the old man's 

 eyelids quiver and then open narrowly. The Man 

 poured whiskey from his flask into a glass, added water, 

 and held it to Amos's lips, where it was quickly and 

 completely absorbed ! 



Next he put a finger on Amos's pulse and after a 

 minute closed his watch with a snap, but without 

 comment. 



"You feel better now, Opie?" he questioned pres- 

 ently in a tone that, to the old man at least, was sig- 

 nificant. 



"What gave you this turn? Is there anything on 

 your mind ? You might as well tell now, as you will 



