The lad was quiet now
from the complete exhaustion of his strength. He might rally or he
might not; his leg was going on favorably. No bad symptom had set
in, and it was now purely a question of strength and constitution
whether he would pull through it.
Mrs. Sankey had been kept in entire ignorance of the whole matter.
She had once or twice expressed a languid surprise at Ned's altered
manner and extreme quietness; but her interest was not sufficient
for her to inquire whether there were any reasons for this change.
Abijah had been taken into Captain Sankey's counsels, and as soon
as the fever had abated, and the doctor pronounced that the most
nourishing food was now requisite, she set to work to prepare
the strongest broths and jellies she could make, and these, with
bottles of port wine, were taken by her every evening to the doctor,
who carried them up in his gig on his visits to his patient in the
morning. On the third Saturday the doctor told Ned that he considered
that the boy had fairly turned the corner and was on the road
to recovery, and that he might now go up and see him. His friends
had expressed their warm gratitude for the supplies which had been
sent up, and clearly cherished no animosity against Ned. The boy
had been informed of the extreme anxiety of his young antagonist
as to his condition, and had nodded feebly when asked if he would
see Ned should he call upon him.
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