f on the sofa. I distinctly remember feeling rather
pleased as I looked from him to Alick, and thought how much more of a
boy Alick looked with his brown, rosy face, than the pale, languid,
almost girlish elder brother, speaking in a weak, tired voice from his
pillow. It was about another ten days before the close carriage came
from Beecham, and with plenty of soft cushions, Harry was laid in it,
and driven away back to the Park.

When we saw him there on our return, he was almost himself again, merry
and bright, but a little pale and easily tired.

IX.

_SUSETTE AND HER TROUBLES._

So we all came back to Beecham Park, and the holidays were over, and we
had to buckle to work again; work that had a pleasant mixture of play in
it, out-of-door fun, Saturday rambles and birthday treats.

When first we returned from the sea-side there came a very earnest
letter from mamma, begging that Sissy might really be sent home now,
for surely grandmamma had had enough, and too much, of her. Indeed, a
message was added at the end to say that papa had made up his mind to
take a holiday and run down to fetch me. All seemed to be settled, and I
myself got into that doubtful state--glad to go home but, oh, so sorry
to leave this happy Beecham home! I began to wonder, too, whether I
should feel quite at home with papa when he came, and on the morning
fixed for his arrival, a very shy fit came over me, so that, at first,
it seemed rather a relief when Harry called out to me that a letter had
come from my home, and that I was to go up to grandmother at once. But
what a grave, sad face met me! My very heart stood still as she kissed
me. Then in gentle words she told me that Bobbie was ill, had caught the
scarlet fever, so papa could not come.

And, to dear grandmamma, I think it was a very anxious time that
followed. My little head could not take in all it meant when news came
of danger, then of baby's illness, then of nurse's. I could see that
other people were sorry; once I found Jane crying, and was caught up on
to her lap and kissed and talked to, till a clear memory of the dear,
chubby little brother at home came back to me, and I had a long,
miserable fit of sobbing. But, you see, I had been away from them all
for nearly six months, and the little brothers and sisters around me had
somehow shut out the two little fellows at home, and my play and lessons
at Beecham seemed much more real than the sorrow all those miles away.