CHAPTER VII.
THE nurse of Mrs.Ridley had found her in a nervous chill, at which she was greatly troubled.

More clothing was laid upon the bed, and bottles of hot water placed to her feet.

To all this Mrs.Ridley made no objection--remained, in fact, entirely passive and irresponsive, like one in a partial stupor, from which she did not, to all appearance, rally even after the chill had subsided.
She lay with her eyes shut, her lips pressed together and her forehead drawn into lines, and an expression of pain on her face, answering only in dull monosyllables to the inquiries made every now and then by her nurse, who hovered about the bed and watched over her with anxious solicitude.
As she feared, fever symptoms began to show themselves.

The evening had worn away, and it was past ten o'clock.

It would not do to wait until morning in a case like this, and so a servant was sent to the office of Dr.Hillhouse, with a request that he would come immediately.