When we reached the great gate of Bartram-Haugh it was dark. Old Crowl, who
kept the gate, I heard enjoining the postilion to make no avoidable noise
at the hall-door, for the odd but startling reason that he believed my
uncle 'would be dead by this time.'
Very much shocked and frightened, we stopped the carriage, and questioned
the tremulous old porter.
Uncle Silas, it seemed, had been 'silly-ish' all yesterday, and 'could not
be woke this morning,' and 'the doctor had been here twice, being now in
the house.'
'Is he better?' I asked, tremblingly.
'Not as I'm aweer on, Miss; he lay at God's mercy two hours agone; 'appen
he's in heaven be this time.'
'Drive on--drive fast,' I said to the driver. 'Don't be frightened, Milly;
please Heaven we shall find all going well.'
After some delay, during which my heart sank, and I quite gave up Uncle
Silas, the aged little servant-man opened the door, and trotted shakily
down the steps to the carriage side.
Uncle Silas had been at death's door for hours; the question of life had
trembled in the scale; but now the doctor said 'he might do.
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