"  I  see  that  you  have  not  much  knowledge  of  sickness,
Miss  McVey,"  said  the  doctor,  to  Margaret,  on  the
morning  of  their  departure,  "although  you  are  a  perfect
nurse,  the  very  best  I  ever  saw.  Your  father  is  very
comfortable  this  morning,  and  he  will,  without  doubt,
have  a  comfortable  journey.  He  probably  will  not  leave
his  berth,  in  fact,  he'd  better  lie  quietly  in  it  all  of  the
way.  The  journey  will  tire  him  less  in  that  way,  and  at  the
best,  these  railroad  trips  are  exhausting.  Let  him  sleep,


RODGER  LATIMER'S  MISTAKE  191

but  be  sure  and  give  him  his  medicine  and  nourishment
regularly.  Insist  upon  his  taking  them,  even  if  he  is  a
little  averse  to  doing  so.  He  seems  very  well  this  morn-
ing, but — I  don't  know — it  is  best  to  do  a  dozen  unneeded
things,  rather  than  run  the  slightest  chance  that  you  may
need  something  that  we  have  neglected  to  provide;  and
possibly,  your  father  may  need  a  change  of  tonic  when
he  reaches  Clinton;  so  you  better  give  me  your  Clinton
physician's  address,  and  I  will  telegraph  him  my  opinion.
Doctor  Kean,  did  you  say  the  name  was?  You  will  have
a  pleasant  trip  home  I'm  sure,'.'  pursued  the  doctor,
"this  fair  weather  is  going  to  last  a  week,'  and  these
late  rains  will  have  laid  all  the  dust.  I  am  sure  both  of
you  will  have  a  comfortable  journey."


CHAPTER  XX.
