Devonshire cream, which formed the nursery
dinner that day, made him shudder; and going to his own room, he flung
himself on the bed, and after having taken some of the soup which was
brought to him, he fell asleep.

"Which," said Helen, as she and the rest peeped at him through a chink
in the doorway, "is _one_ way of spending a birthday."

[Illustration: Helen looking through doorway]

"This birthday has been a failure altogether," said Jim. "I thought
the morning was never coming to an end, and what we are to do this
afternoon I am sure I don't know."

"You won't take my advice and let us have a fight by ourselves," said
Helen. "It might not be much fun, but, anyway, it would be much better
than dawdling away the whole day."

But the others did not agree with her. They felt that without Hal the
whole thing would be lacking in spirit.

"I had meant to order a wagonette and take you all for a nice drive,"
said nurse, who was sorry for their disappointment. "But now that
Master Hal looks so queer, I don't like to leave him."

"Hal has spoiled our whole day," said Helen in a grumbling tone, as
they all sauntered somewhat aimlessly across the garden.

"Poor Hal!" said Drusie softly; "if it comes to that, he is not having
a very nice day himself, Helen."

"And he has not spoiled our feast, Helen," put in Tommy. "We are going
to have that all the same--aren't we, Drusie?"

"Oh yes," she said cheerfully; though, to tell the truth, the feast had
lost all charms for her. She was not even looking forward to seeing
them drink her wonderful wine.

Though they had not intended when they started to go near the fort,
almost without their knowing it their steps led them in the direction
of the Wilderness, and scrambling over the gap in the hedge, they
pushed their way towards the camp. This was a small clearing in the
surrounding thicket, which was always used by the attacking party as a
meeting-ground and a store-house for ammunition. There it lay ready
for use--piles and piles of sandy balls, of all shapes and sizes.

They really could not bear to look at them, and turning away they went
in single file down to the fort. The flag that had floated so
defiantly from its summit all day might as well be hauled down, for if
it rained in the night it would be spoiled.

A narrow path led from the camp; and when Drusie, who was leading the
way, came within sight of the fort she paused and gave vent to a
mournful si