aple declared her entire belief that
though no doubt the poor little fellow had been cruelly knocked about
and bruised, a night's rest would probably restore his bright self, and
make all that was past only like a bad dream. There was no judging
to-night, and sleep was wonderful reparation to those little beings.

Then however the moans and murmurs began again, and now the awakening
cry. They started forward, and as Nuttie came to the cot-side the
child threw himself into her bosom with, 'Sister! Sister! It is
sister!' but his eyes grew round with terror at sight of Annaple, and
clinging tightly to Nuttie he gasped, 'Send her away! don't let her
touch me! Fan's not here!'

To tell him she was Cousin Annaple, Billy's mamma, had no effect; he
did not seem able to understand, and she could only retire--nurse being
thus convinced that to let him see another stranger to-night would only
do further harm. Nuttie and nurse succeeded in reassuring him that he
was safe at home and with them, and in hushing him off into what they
hoped would be a quiet wholesome sleep in spite of the hot sultry
night, on which Annaple laid a good deal of the blame of his
restlessness and feverishness.

Nuttie only came down for a short time before the visitors went away;
and then she wrote a note to Dr. Brownlow, which Mark promised to leave
as he went to the city in the morning, Mr. Egremont, in his present
relief, pooh-poohing all fears, and backing up Annaple's belief in the
powers of 'tired nature's soft restorer'; but Mr. Dutton looked grave
and said that he had remarked the extreme tenderness, but had hoped
that much was due to his own inexperience in handling little children.
The parting clasp of the hand had a world of meaning in it, and Nuttie
openly said that she hoped to tell him after matins at St. Michael's
how the boy was. But she could not be there. When she went upstairs
at night the half-delirious terrors had returned, and there was another
difficult soothing and comforting before the child slept again. Nurse
fancied the unwonted presence might disturb him, and insisted on her
going to her own room.

When she returned in the morning it was to find that since daylight he
had been more quietly asleep; but there was a worn sunken look about
his face, and she could not be satisfied to leave him alone while the
nurses stirred about and breakfasted.

He awoke smiling and happy; he looked about and said gladly, 'Wyn at
hom