CHAPTER XXXIV. THE CLOUD BURSTS.

ilwhichshehadnopowerover,andheshrankfromannoyingherwithit.Ninasupposedthathiscloudedandtroubledaspectwascausedwhollybythesolicitudeofresponsibility. InthesamecarriagewhichconveyedhertothetownsatAuntNesbitalso,andhercap-boxes,whoseimportanceeventhefearofthecholeracouldnotlesseninhereyes.Ninafoundthephysicianquiteaufaitonthesubject.Hehadbeenreadingaboutmiasmaandanimalcul?,andheentertainedNinanearlyhalfanhourwithdifferenttheoriesastothecauseofthedisease,andwiththeexperimentswhichhadbeenmadeinforeignhospitals. Amongthevarioustheories,therewasonewhichappearedtobehisparticularpetandNinacouldn'thelpthinking,ashesteppedaboutsoalertly,thathealmostenjoyedtheprospectofputtinghisdiscoveriestothetest.Bydint,however,ofverypracticalandpositivequestions,Ninadrewfromhimallthevaluableinformationwhichhehadtogiveherandhewroteheraveryfullsystemofdirections,andputupacaseofmedicinesforher,assuringherthatheshouldbehappytoattendinpersonifhehadtime. Onthewayhome,NinastoppedatUncleJohnGordon'splantation,andtherehadthefirstexperienceofthedifferencebetweenwrittendirectionsforasupposedcase,andtheactual,awfulrealitiesofthedisease.HerUncleJohnhadbeenseizedonlyhalfanhourbefore,inthemostawfulmanner.Thehouseholdwasallinterrorandconfusion,andtheshrieksandgroansofagonywhichproceededfromhisroomwereappalling.Hiswife,busywiththesufferer,didnotperceivethatthemessengerswhohadbeensentinhasteforthedoctorwerewringingtheirhandsinfruitlessterror,runningupanddowntheveranda,anddoingnothing. "Harry,"saidNina,"takeoutoneofthecarriage-horses,andridequickforyourlife,andbringthedoctoroverhereinaminute!" Inafewmomentsthethingwasdone,andHarrywasoutofsight.Shethenwalkeduptothedistractedservants,andcommandedthem,inatoneofauthority,toceasetheirlamentations.Herresolutemanner,andthequiettoneofvoicewhichshepreserved,actedasasedativeontheirexcitednerves.Shebanishedallbuttwoorthreeofthemostreasonablefromthehouse,andthenwenttotheassistanceofheraunt. Beforelongthedoctorarrived.Whenhehadbeeninthesickroomafewmoments,hecameouttomakesomeinquiriesofNina,andshecouldnothelpcontrastingtheappalledandconfoundedexpressionofhiscountenancewiththedapper,consequentialair,withwhich,onlytwohoursbefore,hehadbeenholdingforthtoheronanimalcul?andmiasma. "Thedisease,"hesaid,"presenteditselfinanentirelydifferentaspectfromwhathehadexpected.Theremedies,"hesaid,"didnotworkasheanticipatedthecasewasapeculiarone." Alas!beforethethreemonthswereover,poordoctor,youfoundmanypeculiarcases! "Doyouthinkyoucansavehislife?"saidNina. "Child,onlyGodcansavehim!"saidthephysician"nothingworksright." Butwhyprolongthetortureofthatscene,orrehearsethestruggles,groans,andconvulsions?Nina,poorflowerychildofseventeensummers,stoodwiththerestinmutedespair.Allwastriedthatcouldbedoneorthoughtofbutthedisease,likesomeblind,deafdestroyer,marchedon,turningneithertorightnorleft,tillthecriesandgroansgrewfainter,theconvulsedmusclesrelaxed,andthestrong,floridmanlayinthelaststagesofthatfearfulcollapsewhichinonehourshrivelsthemosthealthycountenanceandthefirmestmusclestotheshrunkenandwitheredimageofdecrepitoldage.Whenthebreathhadpassed,andallwasover,Ninacouldscarcelybelievethatthatalteredfaceandform,sowitheredandsoworn,couldhavebeenherhealthyandjoyousuncle,andwhoneverhadappearedhealthierandmorejoyousthanonthatmorning.But,asapersonpassingunderthefoamandsprayofNiagaraclingswithblindconfidencetoaguidewhomhefeels,butcannotsee,Nina,inthisawfulhour,feltthatshewasnotalone.TheRedeemer,all-powerfuloverdeathandthegrave,ofwhomshehadbeenthinkingsomuchoflate,seemedtohersensiblynear.Anditseemedtoherasifavoicesaidtoher,continually,"Fearnot,forIamwiththee.Benotdismayed,forIamthyGod." "Howcalmyouare,mychild!"saidAuntMariatoher."Iwouldn'thavethoughtitwasinyou.Idon'tknowwhatweshoulddowithoutyou." Butnowafrightfulwailwasheard. "Oh,wearealldying!weareallg