enemy.
She intended, she believed, to ram her own best Sunday slipper down
Split Madigan's throat! And she got quite close before she could have
been made to believe that anything on earth or anywhere else could alter
her intention. But a little thing did; merely the sound of voices
outside the door and a swift, piteous change of expression in that
defiant face opposite.

Sissy dropped the slipper and flew to the door. She had a glimpse--which
she pretended not to have seen--of the Merry Zingara crumbling in a
passion of regretful sobs to the floor. Then she was standing outside,
her back to the closed door, a determined, fat little Horatius in
purple, with two red cheeks,--one, indeed, redder than the other where
the slipper had struck,--vowing to hold the bridge against all comers,
so that Split might mourn in peace.

* * * * *

[Illustration:
"'But is she _very_ sick?'"]

"But is she _very_ sick?" came the eager question.

"Well--pretty sick," said the doctor, gravely.

"Not very?" Sissy's voice fell disappointedly. She opened the door for
him and stood at the head of the steps as he prepared cautiously to
descend.

"You don't want your sister to be dangerously ill, do you?" Dr.
Murchison demanded sharply, turning upon her.

"N-no," said Sissy.

"Well, see that you don't squabble with her. Your aunt ought to have
sent for me five days ago, instead of which she lets a sick, nervous,
half-crazy child dance and sing on the stage. All poppycock!"

"Can I help you down the first step, doctor?" asked Sissy, gratefully.

She was so thankful for his words. No one--not even a Madigan,
accustomed to be held strictly accountable--could be to blame for a
failure if she had been ill at the time. The family was almost
rehabilitated, it seemed to Sissy.

The doctor's dim old eyes looked curiously at her. "I believe you've got
some deviltry in your head, Sissy. Now, you mind me and let your sister
alone. There! I'm all right now. I can go all right the rest of the way
when I'm once started down your infernal stairs. I ought to charge your
father double rates for risking my old bones on them. Yes, it's all
right now. It's only the first step that bothers me. It's always the
first step that costs--eh, Sissy?"

She looked blankly up at him.

He bent down and patted her head. "See here," he said, "I'll bet you've
got more sense than you want us to believe."

Sissy blushed. It