y
she had been treated, but in a round-about manner she had heard that
the child had a fever.

"What fever?" she wondered. "Do people die of fever? If she dies will
that be because I left her on the ground while I ran to get that
milkman to help carry her home?"

Miss Blake was not gone long, but it was luncheon-time when she
returned.

"Ah, good morning!" she said, pleasantly, to Nan, who happened to be in
the hall. "I have pleasant news for you. Your little friend Ruth
Newton is better, and her mamma says she would be grateful to you and
me if we would come in once in a while and help her to amuse the poor
child. Will you go with me to-morrow? Mrs. Newton said particularly
that she hoped you would."

A curious expression flitted across Nan's face.

"Mrs. Newton hates me," she announced. "She doesn't want me to see
Ruth."

Miss Blake drew off her gloves carefully.

"I have explained certain matters to Mrs. Newton, Nan," she said, "and
she is quite satisfied that she was partly mistaken in her judgment of
you the other day. She says that she is willing to apologize for some
of her accusations, and she has written you a little note. Now, come,
and we will both go down to luncheon. I see Delia is here to tell us
it is served."

"She takes it for granted I'll go," thought Nan, and indeed she went
quite willingly, and what was more, remained respectfully seated in her
place until Miss Blake gave her permission to depart by rising herself.

CHAPTER VI

WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS

"I think, Delia," said the governess, as Nan was about to go upstairs,
"if you have an ax, or something of the sort, I'll try to unbox my
bicycle."

Nan came to an abrupt halt. Bicycle! The word went through her with
an electric thrill, and sent her blood tingling. Then she dragged
herself unwillingly away. What had she to do with the bicycle of a
woman she hated.

"O Nan!" Miss Blake exclaimed, before the girl's lagging footsteps had
carried her halfway up the staircase, "I'm sure your strong young arms
can help us with this big elephant. Will you lend a hand?"

Now could the governess have suspected that that was precisely what Nan
had been longing to do? But she could not have lingered unless she had
been given the excuse by Miss Blake herself. Had the request been made
to serve as that excuse?

Nan did not stop to question. She came flinging down stairs, two steps
at a time, and Miss Blake and Delia smiled