ch cheek, and then, as they reached the landing in the
summer twilight, waltzing round and round that narrow space with her.

'You ridiculous person!' said Nuttie. 'Do you mean that you saw!'

'Of course I did; I've seen ever so long--'

'Nonsense! That's impossible--'

'Impossible to owls and bats perhaps, but to nothing else not to see
that there was one sole and single hero in the world to you, and that
to him there was one single being in the world; and that being the
case---'

'But, Annaple, you can't guess what he has always been to me.'

'Oh! don't I know?--a sort of Archbishop of Canterbury and George
Heriot rolled into one. So much the more reason, my dear, I don't know
when I've been so glad in my life than that your good times should be
coming.'

'They are come in knowing this! It is only too wonderful,' said
Nuttie, as they stood together among the plants in the little
conservatory on the way upstairs. 'I always thought it insulting to
him when they teased me about him.'

'They did, did they?'

'My father, incited by poor Gregorio. Oh, Annaple! don't let any one
guess till we know how my father will take it. What is it, Ellen?' as
the nursery-maid appeared on the stairs.

'If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Poole would be glad if you are coming up to
the nursery.'

They both hastened up and nurse came out to meet them in the day
nursery, making a sign to Ellen to take her place by the cot, and
withholding the two ladies. She made them come as far off as possible,
and then said that she was not at all satisfied about Master Alwyn.
There had been the same drowsiness and disinclination to speak, and
when she had undressed and washed him, he had seemed tender all over,
and cried out and moaned as if her touch hurt him, especially on one
side where, she felt convinced, there was some injury; but when she
asked about it his eyes grew frightened and bewildered, and he only
cried in a feeble sort of way, as if sobs gave him pain.

She had soothed him, and he had gone into his own bed with the same
gentle languid gladness, but had presently begun moaning, and imploring
in his sleep, wakening with screams and entreaties, 'Oh, I'll do it!
I'll try!' and she thought him very feverish. Would it not be better
that a doctor should see him?

Nurse was always an alarmist, and Nuttie could not help thinking that
to wake the child to see a stranger to-night would only add to his
terror and distress, while Ann