CHAPTER II.
MISS PANNEY The Witton family, distant relatives of Miss Panney, with whom she had lived for many years, resided on a farm in the hilly country above Thorbury, and when Mrs.Tolbridge had rattled through the town, she found the country road very rough and bad--hard and bumpy in some places, and soft and muddy in others; but Buckskin was in fine spirits and pulled her bravely on.
When she reached the Witton house she left the horse in charge of the boy, and opening the hall door, went directly up to Miss Panney's room.
Knocking, she waited some little time for an answer, and then was told, in a clear, high voice, to come in.

The room was large and well lighted.
Against one of the walls stood a high-posted bed with a canopy, and on one of the pillows of the bed appeared the head of an elderly woman, the skin darkened and wrinkled by time, the nose aquiline, and the black eyes very sharp and quick of movement.

This head was surrounded by the frills of a freshly laundered night-cap, and the smooth white coverlid was drawn up close under its chin.
"Upon my word," exclaimed the person in the bed, "is that you, Mrs.
Tolbridge?
I thought it was the doctor." "I don't wonder at that, Miss Panney," said Mrs.Tolbridge.

"At times we have very much the same sort of knock." "But where is the doctor ?" asked the old lady.
"I hope he is at home and asleep," was the reply.

"He has been working very hard lately, and was up the greater part of last night.