little sister was going to get well, and presently Schuyler returned to
school somewhat self-important, as becomes one who has sat at meat with
famous doctors, and talked of them _in extremis_.

The first rime I rode with Lucy through the Aiken woods, I recalled
this famous illness of hers, and I think it had something to do with
all that happened afterward.

We had lost ourselves, a little, as you do at Aiken, among the infinity
of sand trails beyond the Whitney drive. We knew where we were, of
course, and we knew where Aiken was, but every trail that started
toward it fetched up short with a wrong turning. It was one of those
bright hot days in late February, when a few jasmine flowers have
opened, and you are pretty sure that there won't be any more long
spells of rain or freezing cold. Even Lucy, who loved riding, was
content to sit a walking horse, and bask in the sunshine.

I mentioned her famous illness, and she remembered nothing about It.
"I'm always too busy," she said, "with what's going on right now to
remember things."

"Why," I said, "Schuyler was sent for, and you were given up half a
dozen times. Don't you really remember at all?"

"They wouldn't have told me I was being given up right and left, would
they? Probably it didn't hurt much, and I was given a great many
presents. It seems to me I do remember one particularly great time of
presents, when lots of old gentlemen came to see me."

"I hoped you'd remember better," I said; "because at the time it seemed
to me one of the most important things that had ever happened in the
world."

Lucy listened eagerly. She didn't in the least mind a conversation
that was all about herself.

"The whole school," I said, "was touched with solemnity. Now you
wouldn't take me for a praying man, would you?"

"I don't know. Wouldn't I?"

"Whether I am or not," I said, "doesn't matter now, because I have so
little to pray for. But at that time I went down on my knees and
prayed that you'd get well."

"You were very fond of Schuyler, weren't you?"

"And am. But that wasn't the reason. I don't know just what the
reason was. Maybe I was looking forward to this ride, and didn't want
to miss it! I was ashamed to be seen praying, so I prayed in bed. But
I was afraid that wouldn't do any good, so when my roommate had gone to
sleep I got up in the dark and went down on my marrowbones on the bare
icy floor, and I prayed like a good 'un."

Lucy's mouth