CHAPTER XI.

Colonel Platten receives a Strange Request.

THE doctor found John Griffin even worse than Maggie's words had led him to expect. The old man lay with flushed, anxious face, breathing heavily, each breath costing him severe pain. Dr. Thornton spoke kindly and soothingly to him, and stayed long beside his bed, doing all he could to relieve his sufferings. Ere he left, his patient seemed a little easier, but nevertheless Dr. Thornton went away with the conviction that old Griffin would not struggle through this attack as he had through the former one.

And now, as in that other illness, John Griffin had a burden of sin upon his mind, which he pondered in hours of pain and sleeplessness. Again he resolved that with returning health he would take an early opportunity of setting right the wrong he had done.

But several days passed, and he grew no better.

Fresh symptoms and complications presented themselves, baffling the doctor's skill. He came every day to see the old man, and did his utmost for him; but, after a while, his visits became shorter and shorter, and Mrs. Griffin wondered at the change she observed in the doctor's appearance. It struck her that he was looking almost as ill as his patient, and his manner had grown so quiet, that he scarce said an unnecessary word.

Even Maggie felt the change in him, and shrank back in awe at the sight of his grave, pale face. He never stopped to speak to her now before leaving the house; he did not even pat her on the head if he met her on the stairs.

He came into the house, examined his patient, prescribed for him, and then took his departure with an automaton-like precision. What could have wrought such a change in the kind-hearted, genial doctor?

Ere long, an acquaintance coming in to inquire for the invalid, gave Mrs. Griffin a sufficient explanation. "Have you heard?" she asked. "That Dr. Thornton's wife is very ill, and not expected to live? They say she caught cold at a ball, and has got inflammation of the lungs. Won't it be sad if he loses her? For they haven't been married a year yet."

When Mrs. Griffin knew this, she could no longer wonder at the doctor's grave, silent demeanour. She thought that it was very good of him to come every day to see Griffin, and do so much for him, whilst he was in sore trouble about his dear young wife.

Little Maggie was very grieved to hear the news. She could not bear to think that the "pretty lady," whose visit to the shop had given her such delight, and who had looked so lovely when she saw her in her own home, should be ill. She prayed every day that God would soon make her grandfather well; now she added to her prayer a similar request concerning the "pretty lady."

At last, one day, Dr. Thornton came to the house looking quite a different man. He entered with a light, quick step; and his face, though still pale and worn, had a bright and happy expression.

Maggie peeped out of the shop at the sound of his entrance, and seeing this change in his appearance, the child ventured to address him.

"Good-morning, Dr. Thornton," she said; "is your wife better?"

"Yes, thank you, Maggie; she is very much better, I am thankful to say," he replied, with a bright smile; "I hope she will soon recover now." And in his gratitude for the child's sympathy, he stooped and gave her a kiss.

"I'm very glad to hear that," said Maggie, smiling; "do you think my grandfather will soon get better too?"

The doctor's look changed. "I don't know, I hope so," he said, and went hurriedly upstairs.

As he entered the sick room, the doctor saw a great change in old Griffin's appearance. He knew then that there would be no getting better for his patient. The end was drawing near.

The old man was sleeping, and Dr. Thornton would not have him roused. Perhaps in this deep sleep, which seemed so restful, he would pass away.

Dr. Thornton beckoned Mrs. Griffin from the room, and tried to prepare her for what might soon happen. She had long felt that thus it would be, yet her grief, when told that all hope was at an end, was bitter indeed. Her sorrow touched Dr. Thornton keenly, contrasting as it did with his own joyous relief from fear and anxiety.

But though she broke down utterly at first, Mrs. Griffin soon recovered herself, and put her grief aside for the sake of the loved sufferer. She went back with a calm though sorrow-stricken face to take her place beside her husband's bed.

Presently little Maggie stole into the room, and sat down on the other side of the bed. She had often sat there during old Griffin's illness. He liked to know that his "little maid" was near him. Sometimes, when he felt a little better, she had read to him from her mother's Bible, or sung him the hymn which he liked so well to hear.

Whilst they sat thus, John Griffin suddenly opened his eyes, and looked round first at his wife, and then at Maggie.

"Both here!" he said, with a smile. "That's right."

"So you're awake at last, John," said his wife, coming forward to give him some nourishment; "the doctor's been here, but he would not wake you because you was so sound asleep."

"What did the doctor say about me?" asked the old man.

Mrs. Griffin knew not how to reply. She shrank from telling him what the doctor had said. But old Griffin saw her hesitation, and could guess its meaning.

"I know, my wife, I know," he said, faintly; "I have not long to live. I don't want the doctor to tell me that. But there is something to be done ere I die. I must repent and forsake my sins, or the Lord will not forgive me. I must try to undo the wrong I have done my little maid."

"You wronged Maggie!" exclaimed his wife, in astonishment. "Why, John, what do you mean? You've been as good to her as if she were your own child!"

"Why, grandfather, what can you be thinking of?" put in Maggie, hastily. "You've always been good to me, so good and kind."

"I've meant to be good to you, Maggie," he murmured; "but I've wronged you nevertheless, though 'twas my love for you led me to do it. It was all along of that Worcester jug. Will you do something for me, Maggie?"

"Of course I will,—anything!" she cried.

"Then I want you to go to Colonel Platten, the gentleman who bought the jug of me. He lives in a large house at the top of Lockyer Street. Any one will show you the house. Give him my duty, and beg him to come to me at once. Say that I have something of importance to tell him. It is about the Worcester jug. Lose no time, my child, for I have little to count on now."

Maggie went without another word, and made all the haste she could. The short December day was drawing to a close as she sped quickly up the lane on her way to Lockyer Street. As she went her heart was heavy with the thought that soon her adopted grandfather must die and leave her, and that perhaps this would be the last errand on which she would run for him.

Maggie had no difficulty in finding the colonel's house. The first tradesman's boy she met in the street could direct her to it. With a feeling of awe she recognized the house as that outside which she had stood so long with her mother on that bitter winter's night a year ago.

Pushing back the gate, Maggie hurried to the front door, and rang the bell sharply.

A servant appeared in answer to her summons, who was about to scold Maggie for startling the house by such a loud peal; but the child's pale, anxious face stayed her anger.

"Please I want to see Colonel Platten," said Maggie, breathlessly.

"Then you can't," replied the servant, "for he is not at home."

"Not at home!" exclaimed Maggie, in a tone of despair. "Oh, what shall I do?"

"Is it anything so very particular?" said the servant, struck by the child's look and manner. "Can't you leave a message with me?"

"Oh, no, I must see him," said Maggie; "it is very important, and it may soon be too late."

"Then you had better go to Dr. Thornton's," said the servant; "the colonel is most likely there. Do you know where the doctor lives?"

Maggie only replied by a nod, as she darted through the gate, and ran at full speed in the direction of Dr. Thornton's house.

"Whatever can she want?" said the servant.

Maggie found the colonel at Dr. Thornton's house, as she had been led to expect. He was sitting in his daughter's sick room, when a servant came to tell him that a little girl was below, very anxious to speak with him.

"A little girl to see me!" he exclaimed, in surprise. "You must be making a mistake. It is surely the doctor she wants."

"No, sir, she asked for Colonel Platten. She says she comes from John Griffin, who keeps an old curiosity shop. She said you would know who he was."

"Oh, I know," said a weak voice from the couch, where Maud was sitting up supported by pillows, "I know the child. She is the sweetest little thing. Let her come up here, papa; I should like to see her."

"My dear Maud, do you think that is wise?" remonstrated her father. "The girl has probably come on some begging errand. Why should you fatigue yourself by listening to her story?"

"It won't fatigue me, papa, and I'm sure she's no beggar," returned Maud; "do let her come. I am tired of lying here and seeing nobody."

Colonel Platten thought this one of the strangest of his daughter's many strange whims, but he judged it best not to oppose it.

"Very well, my dear, it shall be as you wish," he said, and bade the servant bring the child up.

Maggie's appearance as she entered the sick room was not at all such as the colonel expected to see. He saw a pretty, dark-eyed child, dressed in neat, trim style, who came in with a quiet, composed manner, only her flushed cheeks and rapid breathing betraying the excitement she felt. In an instant the colonel's thoughts were carried back over many years, to the days when just such a little dark-eyed girl as this had been the only child of his home. In his surprise he could not speak for a few moments, but stood silently regarding the child with a look of admiration and interest.

Eager as she was to tell her errand, Maggie forgot it for a minute as she gazed sadly at her "pretty lady," now so white and wasted.

"Well, Maggie," said Mrs. Thornton, as she met the child's earnest gaze, "what brings you here to-night?"

"I came to see Colonel Platten," said Maggie.

"Here I am, child," said the colonel, from his place on the hearth-rug; "what have you to say to me?"

"Oh, please, sir, grandfather has sent me," said the child, falteringly; "he is very ill, and the doctor says he is going to die. And he wants to see you first, for he has something particular to say to you. Would you be so good as to go to him, please, sir?"

"What can your grandfather have to say to me?" demanded Colonel Platten, ill-pleased with the strange request. "I know nothing of him."

"Oh yes, you do, please, sir," Maggie hastened to explain; "my grandfather keeps the old curiosity shop, where you bought that beautiful Worcester jug, with pictures painted upon it. It's about that jug that grandfather wants to speak to you."

"About that jug!" exclaimed the colonel, with a sudden start. What could the old man have to tell him? he wondered.

"Yes, sir; you will come, won't you?" pleaded Maggie. "Grandfather is very ill, and he said it might be too late, if you did not come soon."

"Yes, I will come." decided the colonel.

"You will not leave me all alone, papa?" cried Maud, in distress.

"I am very sorry, Maud; but what can I do?" asked the colonel, in perplexity.

"Do not go," urged his daughter; "what does it matter whether or not you hear something about an old jug?"

"Oh, please let him come!" cried Maggie, turning to the lady with tears in her eyes. "Grandfather wishes it so much."

"Well, will you stay with me whilst papa goes?" asked Maud, who had taken a great fancy to the pretty child.

Maggie hesitated. It was hard to stay away even for an hour from her grandfather's bedside; but she felt bound to do all she could to gain the fulfilment of his last wish.

"Yes, I will stay with you," she said.

And without heeding her evident reluctance, Mrs. Thornton bade her remove her hat and jacket, and come and sit beside her couch.

After kissing his daughter the colonel quitted the room, and a few minutes later they heard him leave the house.

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