ina," shouted a chorus; "she fell into the river. Mamma's in
the house."

By this time they had reached the door, and Mrs. Bayne appeared, having
been attracted by their voices. She was a little woman, thin and worn,
so worn indeed, by many children and many cares, that she looked fifty
instead of thirty-five. She had on a faded dress, and her collar and
cuffs had been soiled and crumpled by the attacks of her younger boys
and girls, especially the fat baby she held in her arms; but she had
long ago ceased to be embarrassed by the shabbiness of her toilette, or
the inevitable disorder of her sitting-room. She found seats for her
guests, and to do so pushed into the background the baby's cradle and an
old easy-chair, in which the luckless Nina was sitting bundled up in
shawls.

Mrs. Bellairs took the baby, which instantly became absorbed in trying
to pull out the long feather of her hat, drew her chair close to the
little invalid, and began to inquire into the accident. Mr. Percy,
determined to make the best of his circumstances, endeavoured to make
friends with the heir of the house, a sturdy boy of nine or ten, but as
the young gentleman declined to do anything, except put his finger in
his mouth and stare, he found himself without other occupation than that
of listening to the conversation of the two ladies.

"It was the night before last," Mrs. Bayne was saying; "they were
playing on the bank, and Miss Nina chose to climb into a tree that
overhangs the river. Of course when she got up, the most natural thing
in the world was that she should slip down again, but unluckily she did
not fall on the grass, but into the water."

Mrs. Bellairs shuddered. "What an awful risk!"

"My dear, they are always running risks. I am sure among the seven there
is always one in danger."

"Well?"

"Well, Charlie ran to the study to his papa, and when Mr. Bayne went
out, there was Nina, who had been partly stunned by her fall, beginning
to float away with the current. Fortunately she had fallen in so near
the edge that the water was very shallow, and if she had been in
possession of her senses, she might have dragged herself out I dare say;
but, you know, the current is very strong, and her papa had to get into
the river a little lower down and catch her as she was passing."

"And she was insensible?"

"Not quite when they brought her in, but then unluckily her wetting
brought on ague again, and she was shivering all night."