s! Oh yes, oh yes, the birds, the birds, I see them
again," cried Norman, with his eyes wide open, staring into the air.

In vain Mrs Vallery tried to soothe him. He still cried out, "Take the
birds away!" He did not even know her.

"Naughty woman, do as I tell you! Don't let the birds come and tease
me," he cried out.

Strange as it may seem, he did not once speak of his fall from the rock
into the water, or of the danger he had run on that occasion.

Thus the night passed on.

As soon as it was morning, Fanny hurried to her little brother's room.
Her grief and pain were very great when she heard him crying out, "Take
the birds away, oh, don't let them tease me!"

She sat down on a stool by his bedside.

Her papa soon came, and he and her mamma hung over Norman, anxiously
watching him, but though he opened his eyes wide, he did not recognise
them.

"Go away, go away, I do not want you," he murmured.

Even when his mamma took his hand and affectionately bent down over him,
he gazed at her as if she was a stranger.

Fanny could scarcely restrain her grief to see him thus.

The doctor came back as early as he could, after visiting a patient some
miles off. Fanny anxiously waited to hear his report.

"The little fellow may do well, but the fever is not yet at its height,
and we shall be able to judge better to-morrow," he said.

"Oh, how dreadful it will be to have to wait all that time," thought
Fanny.

She was sent out of the room several times by her mamma, as she could do
nothing, and as often stole back again, only feeling at rest when seated
by her young brother's bedside.

At last Norman appeared to drop off to sleep, and her granny, who had
taken her mamma's place, whispered that she must go out and enjoy some
fresh air.

Just as she descended the steps, she saw old Alec and little Robby
coming towards the house. Robby darted forward to meet her.

"O Mistress Fanny, how is the young gentleman?" he asked in an eager
tone.

"My brother is very, very ill," answered Fanny, unable to restrain her
tears.

Robby looked very sad, but his countenance brightened up in a little
time as he said--

"Don't cry, young lady, grandfather and I have been praying that God
will take care of Master Norman, and make him well--I am sure He will--
so don't cry, don't cry."

Fanny dried her tears, for she had the same hope in her heart,
remembering that she, too, had been praying, and she knew that God hea