CHAPTER FORTY SIX.
FEVER WORKS WONDERS.
Doctor Grayson's book stood still.
For many years past he had given up the practice of medicine, beyondwriting out a prescription for his daughter or servants, but he calledin the services of no other medical man for poor Dexter.
"No, my dear," he said. "It is my fault entirely that the boy is inthis state, and if such knowledge as I possess can save him, he shallcome down hale and strong once more."
So Dexter had the constant attention of a clever physician and twonurses, who watched by him night and day, the doctor often taking histurn to relieve Helen or Mrs Millett, so that a little rest might betheirs.
And all through that weary time, while the fever was culminating, thosewho watched learned more of the poor fellow's sufferings at thescholastic establishment, during his flight, when he toiled homewardwith an injured foot, and afterwards when he had taken possession of hisold den, and often nearly starved there, in company with his squirrel--his old friend whom he found established in the loft, whence it salliedforth in search of food, as its master was obliged to do in turn.
One night Helen went up to relieve Mrs Millett, and found Maria leaningagainst the door outside, crying silently, and this impressed her themore, from the fact that Peter and Dan'l had each been to the housethree times that day to ask how Master Dexter was.
Maria hurried away, and Helen entered, to find old Mrs Millett standingby the bedside, holding one of the patient's thin white hands, andwatching him earnestly.
"Don't say he's worse," whispered Helen.
"Hush, my dear," whispered the old woman. "Ring, please, Miss; mastersaid I was to if I saw any change."
Helen glided to the bell, and then ran back to the bed, to standtrembling with her hands clasped, and her eyes tearless now.
The doctor's step was heard upon the stairs, and he enteredbreathlessly, and without a word crossed to the bed, to bend down overthe sufferer as he held his wrist.
The silence in that room was terrible to two of the inmates, and thesuspense seemed to be drawn out until it was almost more than could beborne.
At last the doctor turned away, and sank exhausted in a chair; and asHelen caught his hand in hers, and questioned him with her eyes, he saidin a low and reverent voice--
"Yes, Helen, our prayers have been heard. Poor fellow! he will live."
Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel Page 46