ying ill up there?'

Charlotte looked at her swiftly, and then turned away, blinking her eyes
furiously; and the head girl took her arm with astonishing condescension,
and walked silently into the cloakroom with her.

A little later, Dr. Hurst came out of Miss Finlayson's bedroom upstairs,
and closed the door softly behind him. The head-mistress stood waiting
for him on the landing. Their eyes met, and hers were full of anxious
inquiry. In his there shone a gleam of something that had not been there
before.

'Better,' he said, and drew a long breath. He put his hand on the
baluster-rail to steady himself. 'She'll do, now that consciousness
has returned,' he went on in a businesslike tone; 'the concussion was
only slight, after all, and the fracture to the leg could hardly be in
a better place. Wonderful what children will do to kill themselves
without succeeding! She'll pull through in no time, with rest and
quiet--perfect quiet, mind! Don't let those boys go near her, whatever you
do; and keep your girls from weeping on her neck as much as possible. Good
morning.'

Miss Finlayson smiled, and retained his hand a moment. No one would have
thought that this practical man of medicine, who pretended to regard his
little patient merely as an interesting case, was the boyish-hearted
fellow who had sat by her bedside all night to watch for her returning
consciousness.

'Must you go?' she said. 'Why not rest on the sofa in my study for an
hour, and stay to lunch with us? You must be worn out.'

The Doctor drew himself up and frowned. 'Not at all, not at all!' he said,
looking vexed. 'Room full of patients waiting for me at home--I must wish
you good morning.'

[Illustration: 'Tell me, Herr Doktor, haf I kilt her?']

He left her and hurried off, still frowning. Just as he turned the corner
of the gallery, Egbert and Peter, who had been lying in wait for him some
fifteen minutes, sprang out upon him from an open door.

'How is she?' they asked eagerly.

'Really!' fumed the Doctor, who hated being taken by surprise. 'The
bulletin is with Miss Finlayson; I have no time----'

Peter grasped his arm as he was escaping. 'Is she going to get better?'
he implored. There was no mistaking the earnestness in the boy's face,
and the Doctor melted in spite of himself.

'Yes, yes, to be sure,' he growled. 'That is, if you leave her alone.'

When he reached the staircase he was again brought to a standstill. The
way was entirely