had formed the habit, when she had many babies, of rousing at small stirrings. She had the knack of leaving the big, double bed, where she slept with her husband, without awakening him when she went her rounds to see that every child was covered and was safe and warm.
David telegraphed to Fidelia: "I have come to Itanaca and will stay here till to-morrow. Will wire later."
He determined to take into his own hands the matter of his mother's health so he called on Dr. Brailford with very unsatisfactory results, as the doctor seemed to observe nothing more definite than that Mrs. Herrick was "run down" and he hoped she would pick up soon.
David asked, "Rest would certainly help her, wouldn't it?"
The doctor shook his head. "Not if you mean a trip to California and nothing to do, son. Not for the type of woman your mother is. I know her; she'd just fret herself to death."
That night David lay awake in the room he used to share with his brother Paul; Paul had been put elsewhere to-night. It was not easy for his mother to arrange that David have a room to himself but she had done it and when his door opened, very quietly, and his mother came in, David understood that she had done it for a particular purpose.
He whispered to her, in order to make sure of rousing no one, and she came quietly to the bed. "I wanted you to be awake, David," she said.
He clasped his arm about her and felt with new alarm how thin she was under her nightdress and robe.
