r the knickers, and the two went downstairs hand in hand, just as
they had come at Easter-time.

It was a pleasant evening, but the wind was fresh, and all there
was of it met them on the top of the tram; but no thought of danger
crossed Jim's mind. Harry was very happy and quite ready to chatter
after his long day of enforced silence, and though by and by he became
very quiet, Jim thought he was tired and took him on his knee, where
he fell asleep.

But all night long he tossed and moaned, and when the morning came,
instead of being awake with the birds, he lay heavily asleep, with
flushed cheeks and quick drawn breath.

Jim stood looking down on him with a frown. Then he made himself some
coffee for dinner and went over for another look at the child.

"Jane," he said sharply, "I believe that child has got a cold. Don't
you let him go out of the room to-day, and you stop in and mind him.
D'you hear me?" he repeated, as Jane made no reply. "You're to stop in
and mind the child. No going out to work or to gossip."

"I've arranged to go to Old Keston," said Jane shortly. "He's all
right, and he can go to the Nursery."

"He's not to leave the room; and work or no work, you're going to stop
and see to him. Look here, Jane!" Jim went on sternly, "I'm master
here, though you seemed to forget it when you brought your sister's
child, without asking me if it was welcome. You've had a good bit of
your own way, but this time it's going to be _my_ way."

Jane had grown a little pale.

"Oh, all right," she said crossly. "What a fuss!"

She had settled everything in her own mind for taking Maud back that
very evening, but after all, one day was as good as another, and if
Jim should once begin on the subject of Maud, who could tell what he
might ferret out? He might even insist on himself taking Maud back to
her supposed mother and baby sister, and then what would happen? And
it would be of no use to keep back her sister's address from him, for
there was always Tom.

She made Harry get up, and he played listlessly with Maud, or fell
asleep on the floor in the midst of the toys; and by evening time even
Jane's careless eyes could see that the child was really ill.

Jim saw it too, and he went straight out again and left word at the
nearest doctor's house, for the doctor to come at once. But the doctor
was a busy man, and it was very late when at last he came and stood
looking down on Harry's flushed little face. He asked a