cing silence. The rapidity with
which three tongues simultaneously darted out for his inspection reminded
him irresistibly of mechanical toys, and he very nearly allowed himself to
smile.

'That will do,' he said, controlling himself sternly; and he took out his
watch and felt Barbara's pulse. The moment the child's tongue was her own
again, she began to make use of it.

'You're sorry that we are not any iller, aren't you, Dr. Hurst?' she
remarked.

'Eh? What?' said the Doctor, taken aback. 'I--I don't know what you are
talking about.'

'Well, you always look as though you would like us so much better if we
_really_ had scarlet fever instead of only waiting for it,' explained
Babs, pleasantly. '_Would_ you like us better, Dr. Hurst, if we really
had scarlet fever?'

She had so nearly guessed the truth with her quick, impish perception,
that the Doctor dropped her hand abruptly and passed on to Angela. 'There
doesn't seem to be much the matter with any of you,' he said, by way
of conducting the conversation on strict medical lines. He looked so
cross about it, however, that the attempt did not prosper. Barbara, in
the innocence of her heart, thought he needed cheering up.

'Are you coming to the display, Dr. Hurst?' she asked politely.

'The--I beg your pardon?' he murmured, staring hard at his watch.

'The gymnastic display at the end of the term, when we're going to
compete for the Canon's prize, you know,' proceeded Barbara. 'Everybody's
coming--Jill too! So _you_ will, won't you, Dr. Hurst?'

'Really, I don't know,' answered the Doctor; and he dropped Angela's
hand just as hastily, and passed on to Jean Murray. Babs looked a little
puzzled for a moment, and then her face cleared.

'Oh, of course, you don't like Jill! I'd forgotten that,' she remarked
with a smile. 'But that doesn't matter, because you needn't sit next to
her, need you? I don't think Jill would mind your not sitting next to
her,' she added reflectively.

The Doctor began to wish very heartily that he had accepted Miss
Finlayson's offer to let one of the teachers accompany him from the house,
and he prepared to beat a speedy retreat. But Angela, in her bland and
tactless manner, put the finishing touch to his embarrassment and cut off
his retirement.

'Jill Urquhart is outside on the lawn now,' she observed quite pointlessly.

'So she is!' cried Barbara, clapping her hands. 'Then you'll come to the
window and speak to her, won't you, Dr