“Was it Mr. Hillary?” interposed the clerk.

She shook her head.  “I don’t think so; but it was getting too dark to see.  Any way, it gave me a turn; and he’s gone right up to Pike’s shed.”

“Gave you a turn, indeed!” scornfully repeated Mrs. Jones.  “I think you’re getting more of an idiot every day, Nance.  It’s to be hoped somebody’s gone to take him up; that’s what is to be hoped.”

But Mr. Hillary it was.  Hearing nothing from Jabez Gum all day, he had come to the conclusion that that respectable man had ignored his promise, and, unable to divest himself of the idea that Pike was ill, in the evening, having a minute to spare, he went forth to see for himself.

The shed-door was closed, but not fastened, and Mr. Hillary went in at once without ceremony.  A lighted candle shed its rays around the rude dwelling-room:  and the first thing he saw was a young man, who did not look in the least like Pike, stretched upon a mattress; the second was a bushy black wig and appurtenances lying on a chair; and the third was a formidable-looking pistol, conveniently close to the prostrate invalid.

Quick as thought, the surgeon laid his hand upon the pistol and removed it to a safe distance.  He then bent over the sick man, examining him with his penetrating eyes; and what he saw struck him with consternation so great, that he sat down on a chair to recover himself, albeit not liable to be overcome by emotion.

When he left the shed—­which was not for nearly half-an-hour after he had entered it—­he heard voices at Clerk Gum’s front-door.  The storm was over, and their visitor was departing.  Mr. Hillary took a moment’s counsel with himself, then crossed the stile and appeared amongst them.  Nodding to the three collectively, he gravely addressed the clerk and his wife.

“I have come here to ask, in the name of our common humanity, whether you will put aside your prejudices, and be Christians in a case of need,” he began.  “I don’t forget that once, when an epidemic was raging in Calne, you”—­turning to the wife—­“were active and fearless, going about and nursing the sick when almost all others held aloof.  Will you do the same now by a helpless man?”

The woman trembled all over.  Clerk Gum looked questioningly at the doctor.  Mrs. Jones was taking in everything with eyes and ears.

“This neighbour of yours has caught the fever.  Some one must attend to him, or he will lie there and die.  I thought perhaps you’d do it, Mrs. Gum, for our Saviour’s sake—­if from no other motive.”

She trembled excessively.  “I always was terribly afraid of that man, sir, since he came,” said she, with marked hesitation.

“But he cannot harm you now.  I don’t ask you to go in to him one day after he is well again—­if he recovers.  Neither need you be with him as a regular nurse:  only step in now and then to give him his physic, or change the wet cloths on his burning head.”