Mrs. Jones found her voice.  The enormous impudence of the surgeon’s request had caused its temporary extinction.

“I’d see Pike in his coffin before I’d go a-nigh him as a nurse!  What on earth will you be asking next, Mr. Hillary?”

“I didn’t ask you, Mrs. Jones:  you have your children to attend to; full employment for one pair of arms.  Mrs. Gum has nothing to do with her time; and is near at hand besides.  Gum, you stand in your place by Dr. Ashton every Sunday, and read out to us of the loving mercy of God:  will you urge your wife to this little work of charity for His sake?”

Jabez Gum evidently did not know what to answer.  On the one hand, he could hardly go against the precepts he had to respond to as clerk; on the other, there was his scorn and hatred of the disreputable Arab.

“He’s such a loose character, sir,” he debated at length.

“Possibly:  when he is well.  But he is ill now, and could not be loose if he tried.  Some one must go in now and then to see after him:  it struck me that perhaps your wife would do it, for humanity’s sake; and I thought I’d ask her before going further.”

“She can do as she likes,” said Jabez.

Mrs. Gum—­as unresisting in her nature as ever was Percival Elster—­yielded to the prayer of the surgeon, and said she would do what she could.  But she had never shown more nervousness over anything than she was showing as she gave her answer.

“Then I will step indoors and give you a few plain directions,” said the surgeon.  “Mrs. Jones has taken her departure, I perceive.”

Mrs. Gum was as good as her word, and went in with dire trepidation.  Calne’s sentiments, on the whole, resembled Mrs. Jones’s, and the woman was blamed for her yielding nature.  But she contrived, with the help of Mr. Hillary’s skill, to bring the man through the fever; and it was very singular that no other person out of the Rectory took it.

The last one to take it at the Rectory was Mrs. Ashton.  Of the three servants who had it, one had died; the other two recovered.  Mrs. Ashton did not take it until the rest were well, and she had it lightly.  Anne nursed her and would do so; and it was an additional reason for prolonging the veto against Lord Hartledon.

One morning in December, Val, in passing down the road, saw the Rectory turned, as he called it, inside out.  Every window was thrown open; curtains were taken down; altogether there seemed to be a comprehensive cleaning going on.  At that moment Mr. Hillary passed, and Val arrested him, pointing to the Rectory.

“Yes, they are having a cleansing and purification.  The family went away this morning.”

“Went where?” exclaimed Hartledon, in amazement.

“Dr. Ashton has taken a cottage near Ventnor.”

“Had Mrs. Ashton quite recovered?”

“Quite:  or they would not have gone.  The Rectory has had a clean bill of health for some time past.”