Then she opened the bed-curtains a little way in order that she might see Albert in case he should wake or move, and having adjusted them as she wished, she went to the stoop door and took her seat there, with her knitting-work in her hand, in a position from which, on one side she could look into the room and observe every thing which took place there, and on the other side, watch the road and see if any one went by.

She thought it probable that some of the workmen, who had been employed at the new house, might be going home about that time, and she wished to send into the village by them to ask Dr.Keep to come.
Mary Erskine succeeded in her design of sending into the village by one of the workmen, and Dr.Keep came about nine o'clock He prescribed for Albert, and prepared, and left, some medicine for him.

He said he hoped that he was not going to be very sick, but he could tell better in the morning when he would come again.
"But you ought not to be here alone," said he to Mary Erskine.

"You ought to have some one with you." "No," said Mary Erskine, "I can get along very well, alone, to-night,--and I think he will be better in the morning." Stories of sickness and suffering are painful to read, as the reality is painful to witness.

We will therefore shorten the tale of Mary Erskine's anxiety and distress, by saying, at once that Albert grew worse instead of better, every day for a fortnight, and then died.
During his sickness Mrs.Bell spent a great deal of time at Mary Erskine's house, and other persons, from the village, came every day to watch with Albert, and to help take care of the children.