thankful, for the sake of my wife and Jennie!" And here the sufferer fell back exhausted, closed his eyes, and went off into a doze.
Mrs. Bartlett motioned Gilbert out of the room; and he followed her, on tiptoes. "Is it not awful?" she burst out, when the door was closed behind them. "What shall I do? What can I do?"
"I don't know of anything, excepting to keep him quiet. Has he been this way long?"
"Ever since the fire. Every shot near the house seems to affect him."
"Then he ought to be removed from Tien-Tsin."
"But would that be safe? I understand every boat coming or going on the river is under fire."
"That is true. But I think this bombardment will soon come to an end. More of our troops are arriving, and we will soon make an attack on the native city in force. Once we have cleaned out that section, I think the whole Chinese army will retreat toward Pekin."
"I trust the relief comes soon," put in Jennie. "This cannon-firing day after day is enough to drive one mad! And to have poor papa down sick—" Her throat choked up, and she could not go on.
