rowsy and languid state until midnight. Hester,
with all her very slight experience of illness, thought that as long as
Nan was quiet she must be getting better; but Miss Danesbury was by no
means so sure, and, notwithstanding the doctor's verdict, she felt
anxious about the child. Hester had said that she could not sleep; but at
Miss Danesbury's special request she got into bed, and before she knew
anything about it was in a sound slumber. At midnight, when all the house
was quiet, and Miss Danesbury kept a lonely watch by the sick child's
pillow, there came a marked change for the worse in the little one. She
opened her feverish eyes wide and began to call out piteously; but her
cry now was, not for Hester, but for Annie.

"Me want my Annie," she said over and over, "me do, me do. No, no; go
'way, naughty Day-bury, me want my Annie; me do want her."

Miss Danesbury felt puzzled and distressed. Hester, however, was awakened
by the piteous cry, and sat up in bed.

"What is it, Miss Danesbury?" she asked.

"She is very much excited, Hester; she is calling for Annie Forest."

"Oh, that is quite impossible," said Hester, a shudder passing through
her. "Annie can't come here. The doctor specially said that none of the
girls were to come near Nan."

"Me want Annie; me want my own Annie," wailed the sick child.

"Give me my dressing-gown, please, Miss Danesbury, and I will go to her,"
said Hester.

She sprang out of bed, and approached the little crib. The brightness of
Nan's feverish eyes was distinctly seen. She looked up at Hester, who
bent over her; then she uttered a sharp cry and covered her little face.

"Go 'way, go 'way, naughty Hetty--Nan want Annie; Annie sing, Annie p'ay
with Nan--go 'way, go 'way, Hetty."

Hester's heart was too full to allow her to speak; but she knelt by the
crib and tried to take one of the little hot hands in hers. Nan, however,
pushed her hands away, and now began to cry loudly.

"Annie!--Annie!--Annie! me want 'oo; Nan want 'oo--poor tibby Nan want
'oo, Annie!"

Miss Danesbury touched Hester on her shoulder.

"My dear," she said, "the child's wish must be gratified. Annie has an
extraordinary power over children, and under the circumstances I shall
take it upon me to disobey the doctor's directions. The child must be
quieted at all hazards. Run for Annie, dear--you know her room. I had
better stay with little Nan, for, though she loves you best, you don't
sooth her at present