"You can take me in the direction, anyhow, and explain to me how I am to
get to Miss Fraser," said Effie. "Come, there's not an instant to
lose--be quick."

"Oh, yes! I can take you in the direction," said the girl.

She turned down a corridor; Effie followed her. The servant walked
rather slowly and in a dubious sort of way.

"Can't you hurry?" said Effie. "It is a matter of life and death."

The girl hastened her steps a little. Effie's manner frightened her.
Presently they reached a baize door--the servant pushed it open, but
stood aside herself.

"It is as much as my place is worth to open this door," she said. "It is
here the infectious case is, and Miss Fraser's own orders are that the
door is not to be opened; but you frighten me somehow, miss, and I
suppose there's no harm in it."

"No, of course there is no harm. Now, tell me which is Miss Fraser's
room?"

"The nurseries are entered by the third door as you go down that
passage, miss."

The servant banged to the baize door, and Effie found herself alone.
She ran down the passage, and opened the outer nursery door. It was
quiet and still, in perfect order, the blinds down, and the windows
open. Effie, in spite of all her agitation, walked on tiptoe across this
room. A door which led into another room was half open, and she heard
someone moving about. That step, so quiet and self-possessed, must
belong to Dorothy.

"Dorothy! Dorothy! come here," called Effie.

Dorothy Fraser, in her dressing-gown, came out to the other room at
once.

"Effie!" she exclaimed. "Effie Staunton!"

"Yes, it is I," said Effie; "it is I." She began to unpin her hat as she
spoke. "I have come here to stay; I am going to nurse little Freda, and
you are to go back to father. The gig is waiting outside, and you can
easily drive old Jock. Drive him straight home, and go as fast as ever
you can."

"Is your father ill, Effie?"

"Yes; he has taken the diphtheria. He is very ill. Mother sent me for
you. If father dies, mother will die. They love each other so dearly--so
very dearly. One couldn't live without the other. Go, and save them
both, Dorothy, and I will stay with Freda."

"You are a dear, brave little girl," said Dorothy.

She went and put her strong arms round Effie.

"I will go at once," she said. "But are you prepared to take full charge
here, Effie?"

"Yes; tell me quickly what is to be done!"

"There's nothing to be done now but simply to see that Freda d