He may be lying there helpless." "Little matter if he is," growled the clerk, who seemed put out about something or other.
"It's not like you to say so, Gum.

You might step over the stile and see; you're nearest to him.

Nobody knows what the man is, or what he may have been; but humanity does not let even the worst die unaided." "What makes you think he has the fever ?" asked the clerk.
"I only say he may have it; having seen neither him nor his smoke these two days.

Never mind; if it annoys you to do this, I'll look in myself some time to-day." "You wouldn't get admitted; he keeps his door fastened," returned Gum.
"The only way to get at him is to shout out to him through that glazed aperture he calls his window." "Will you do it--or shall I ?" "I'll do it," said the clerk; "and tell you if your services are wanted." Mr.Hillary walked off at a quick pace.

There was a good deal of illness in Calne at that season, though the fever had not spread.
Whether Clerk Gum kept his word, or whether he did not, certain it was that Mr.Hillary heard nothing from him that day.