She knelt down, and with the candle in her right hand, pushed aside the lid with her left.  From the box there grinned at her a human skull, surrounded by its bones.  She started back.

“Uncle Butterwood,” she gasped and tried to rise, but her strength and senses left her, and she fell over unconscious, upon the floor.  The candle dropped from her hand, and, fortunately, went out.

CHAPTER V

PANNEYOPATHY

About ten o’clock the next morning, Mike, in his little wagon, rattled up to the door of Dr. Tolbridge.

The doctor was not at home, but his wife came out.

“That young girl!” she exclaimed.  “Why, what can be the matter with her?”

“I dunno, ma’am,” answered Mike.  “Phoebe told me just as the wagon got there with the boxes an’ trunks, an’ nobody but me to help the man upstairs with ’em, an’ said I must get away to the doctor’s jes’ as fast as I could drive.  She said somethin’ about her sleepin’ in the garret and ketchin’ cold, but she wouldn’t let me stop to ax no questions.  She said the doctor was wanted straight off.”

“I am very sorry,” said Mrs. Tolbridge, “that he is not here, but he said he was going to stop and see Miss Panney.  I can’t tell you any other place to which he was going.  If you drive back by the Witton road, you may find him, or, if he has not yet arrived, it might be well to wait for him.”

Arrived at the Witton house, Mike saw Miss Panney, wrapped in a heavy shawl and wearing a hood, taking her morning exercise on the piazza.

“They want the doctor already!” she exclaimed in answer to Mike’s inquiries.  “Who could have thought that?  And he left here nearly half an hour ago.  His wife will send him when he gets home, but there is no knowing when that will be.  However, she must have somebody to attend to her.  Mike, I will go myself.  I will go with you in your wagon.  Wait one minute.”

Into the house popped Miss Panney, and in a very short time returned, carrying with her an umbrella and a large reticule made of brown plush, and adorned with her monogram in yellow.  One of the Witton girls came with her, and assisted her to the seat, by the side of Mike.

“Now then,” said she, “get along as fast as you can.  I shall not mind the jolts.”

“Phoebe,” said Miss Panney, as she entered the Cobhurst door, “it’s a long time since I have seen you, and I have not been in this house for eight years.  I hope you will be able to tell me something about this sudden sickness, for Mike is as stupid as a stone post, and knows nothing at all.”