he could not sleep. The details of the storm were pictured
in his mind and kept him awake. Adding horror upon horror, he tossed
from side to side.

"What if Bet had been drowned!"

Again and again he arose and tiptoed into Bet's room to make sure that
she was resting, and that he still had her! Without Bet, life would be
unbearable!

CHAPTER VII

LADY BETTY'S ADVENTURE

It was a week before Kit was allowed to see all her friends. Bet was
given permission to slip in once in a while, just to reassure the sick
girl that she was all right. Kit kept worrying and would wake up
terrified, believing that Bet had been drowned.

Shirley and Joy made daily visits to the Manor. They helped Auntie
Gibbs in the kitchen; they did everything they could for the nurse and
even helped Mrs. Stacey so she could come and sit with Kit.

Bet was not allowed to get up, as the exposure and strain had made her
heart play strange tricks.

"She's just tired, that's all," said the doctor. "Nothing to worry
about," he assured Colonel Baxter, who was anxious as he looked at the
pale face of his daughter.

"Tired and half frightened to death," laughed Bet as she pressed her
father's hand. "It's good to be near you, Dad."

At first the doctor had forbidden anyone to mention the accident to
Kit, but as she seemed to be worrying over something he finally told
Bet to go and talk the matter over with her.

"Oh Bet, what do you think of me? It was all my fault!" exclaimed the
sick girl, as she raised herself on her elbow.

"That's all nonsense. It was every bit mine. Dad says so and he ought
to know."

"But I coaxed you to go across the river," moaned Kit. "I'll never
forgive myself!"

"Of course you coaxed me to go across the river, but I should have
known what to expect with a sky like that. I just didn't think. Dad
says that's no excuse at all."

"Bet, dear, it was terrible sitting there in the bottom of the boat and
being too stupid to help any." Kit shuddered at the remembrance.

"Why, Kit Patten! You think you didn't do anything! In the first
place you kept the boat baled out as well as anyone could. If you
hadn't, we'd have been swamped."

"That wasn't anything, Bet."

"If it hadn't been for you we would both have been drowned. If you had
been paddling, you couldn't have caught the rope and tied the loops.
And I wouldn't have known how to tie a loop so it would hold. You
saved our lives! Dad and I w