till unwilling to allow her to come downstairs.

"Best complete the cure while we're about it, and take another week in
your room," he decreed. "If you begin to bustle round the house too
soon, it may undo all the good of this enforced rest.

"I feel such a slacker," groaned the invalid.

After the doctor had gone the family held another conference in
Beatrice's room.

"I had a letter from Cousin Edith this morning," said Mr. Gascoyne.
"She offers to come and take full charge, both of you and the
household. What do you think, Bee? Had we better let her come for a
while, just until you're fit to be about again?"

"It isn't worth it for a week--and I mean to be down then, doctor or
no doctor!" announced Beatrice, with characteristic firmness. "In the
meantime I'd rather have Gwen than anybody, if she doesn't mind
staying at home a few days longer. She's a kind little nurse, and
she's kept things going wonderfully. I'd never have believed she'd
manage so well."

Gwen's eyes filled with tears. Beatrice, of all people in the world,
to yield her so high a tribute of praise! Beatrice, who had been so
captious and hard to please as she lay in bed giving elaborate
directions, and whose fidgety ways had needed so much patience!

"I'm glad if I've been of any use," she faltered.

"Use! You've been a jewel. I don't know whatever we should have done
without you," said Beatrice, catching Gwen's hand, and squeezing it
hard. "Can you spare another week as general slavey? Miss Roscoe would
quite understand."

"I'll do anything you like, Bee," said Gwen, returning the squeeze.

CHAPTER XXIV

The Senior Oxford

Gwen went back to school after three weeks' absence, fearing that
every chance of the Senior Oxford must have faded into thin air. She
had worked as well as she could at home, but it had not been the same
as studying with a mistress, and she felt her deficiencies painfully.

"There's no time to make things up now, either," she thought. "The
exam. begins on the sixteenth, and that's actually next Monday. Oh
dear! If only I were better up in maths! I know the chemistry'll stump
me too. That's to say if I'm even allowed to go in at all!"

On this last point her doubts were soon dispelled. At eleven o'clock
she received a summons to the headmistress's study.

"Well, Gwen," said Miss Roscoe. "It has been very unfortunate that you
were obliged to stay away so long, but you must do your best,
notwithstanding. I