We a' ken what ye
mean an' what ye want wi'oot that.'
Then she turned to Robert, and said in a whisper,
'Dr. Gow wadna hae ye sent for; but I kent weel eneuch 'at he wad be
a' the quaieter gin ye war here. Jist gie a chap upo' the flure gin
ye want onything, an' I'll be wi' ye in twa seconds.'
The sisters went away. Robert drew a chair beside the bed, and once
more was nurse to his friend. The doctor had already bled him at
the arm: such was the ordinary mode of treatment then.
Scarcely was he seated, when Ericson spoke--a smile flickering over
his worn face.
'Robert, my boy,' he said.
'Dinna speak,' said Robert, in alarm; 'dinna speak, Mr. Ericson.'
'Nonsense,' returned Ericson, feebly. 'They're making a work about
nothing. I've done as much twenty times since I saw you last, and
I'm not dead yet. But I think it's coming.'
'What's coming?' asked Robert, rising in alarm.
'Nothing,' answered Ericson, soothingly,--'only death.--I should
like to see Miss St. John once before I die. Do you think she would
come and see me if I were really dying?'
'I'm sure she wad. But gin ye speik like this, Miss Letty winna lat
me come near ye, no to say her. Oh, Mr. Ericson! gin ye dee, I
sanna care to live.'
Bethinking himself that such was not the way to keep Ericson quiet,
he repressed his emotion, sat down behind the curtain, and was
silent. Ericson fell fast asleep. Robert crept from the room, and
telling Miss Letty that he would return presently, went to Miss St.
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