iolently, for the Doctor exclaimed:

"Well done! The cure has begun."

"What do you mean, Doctor?"

"Only this, my lad: that very likely there may be several relapses, but
you are growing up fast. There, our consultation is over, and I suppose
you have no more to say to me?"

"Yes, one thing, Doctor," said the young man in a low tone, for the
ladies' voices were heard once more.

"Well, what is it?"

"Only this, sir--private and confidential."

"Of course. What do you mean?"

"You will not tell Mrs Morley what I have said?"

"Is it likely, my lad?" cried the Doctor merrily, as he clapped his
visitor on the shoulder. "There, be off. You are keeping a patient
waiting."

The Doctor threw open the door and led the way out into the veranda,
where Mrs Morley and Minnie were standing beside a black-haired,
black-eyed, young native woman, who was squatted down in the shade, and
who now started up hurriedly from where she had evidently been holding
up a solemn-looking little child of about two years old for the ladies'
inspection.

The woman's dark eyes flashed, and she made a movement as if to cover
her face, but snatched away her hand directly and stood up proudly for a
moment, before bowing low and not ungracefully to the Doctor as he gave
her a quick nod.

"Here is Dula," said Mrs Morley. "She has brought up her sick child."

"Yes, I see," said the Doctor, rather gruffly, as he frowned at the
swarthy little patient. "But I wish Dula could talk English or I could
talk her tongue a little better."

The woman smiled intelligently as she rearranged the bright-coloured
plaid sarong around the child and said in a pleasant voice:

"Ba-be bet-ter."

The Doctor took a step forward, and the child shrank from him as he laid
his hand upon its head and gazed fixedly in its eyes.

"Now, little one," he said, "we did teach you to put out your tongue
last time."

"Tongue--tongue," said the woman quickly; and she held the child towards
the Doctor, while Archie and Minnie exchanged glances, and then burst
out laughing; for, in obedience to a shake given by its mother, the tiny
girl uttered a low whimper, screwed-up her face as if about to cry, and
then thrust out a little red tongue, drew it back instanter, and buried
her face in her mother's breast.

"All right," said the Doctor to the woman. "It is getting well fast."

"Well--fast!" cried the woman, catching up his words quickly; and then,
with the tears w