instantly.

"We must go back," she said.

"Then we can arrange to sit in another place," suggested Dorothy.
"Perhaps if she were quiet she might fall off asleep."

Viola left the compartment first. There were people in the aisle--in
front of her mother. What had happened?

"Oh!" screamed the girl. "Mother! Let me go to her!" and she hurried
through the car, pushing aside the trainmen who had been summoned.
"Mother! Mother!" called the frightened Viola, for her mother was so
pale and so still!

"Oh, she is dead!" whispered Tavia, who had succeeded in reaching the
chair.

"Open the windows!" commanded Viola. "Call Dr. Reed, quick! He is in
the next car!"

It seemed an eternity--but in reality was only a few minutes--before
the doctor reached the spot. Dorothy could see that Mrs. Green had not
fainted--her eyes were moving. But poor Viola! How could they ever
have thought ill of her when this was her sorrow: this her sad burden!

Dorothy Dale resolved in her heart, at that moment, that never a care
nor a sorrow should come to Viola Green if she could protect her from
it. She would be her champion at school, she would try to share this
secret sorrow with her; she would do anything in her power to make life
brighter for a girl who had this awful grief to bear.

"It's her mind," Dorothy had heard someone whisper. Then the doctor
had the porters carry the sick woman to a private compartment, and with
her Viola remained, until the train reached Hanover. There Dr. Reed
left the train and with him went Mrs. Green in care of an attendant.
When they were gone Viola returned to her companions weeping and almost
sick herself.

"The doctor would not let me go back home," she sighed, "and as soon as
mother was conscious she insisted on me going on to school. Dr. Reed
can always manage her so well, and if I were with him perhaps mother
would fret more. But I did think she would get over those awful
spells--" and the girl burst into fresh tears.

"Viola, dear," said Dorothy soothingly. "Try to be brave. Perhaps the
trip may benefit her in the end."

"Oh, don't try to be kind to me," wailed the unhappy girl. "I can't
stand it! I hate everybody and everything in this world only my
darling little sweet mother! And I cannot have her! She can never go
with me to her own country now, and we had planned it all! Oh, mother
darling! Why did you inherit that awful sickness! Why can't we cure
you!" and so the