way."

"He's at the Burnams'," answered Louise, rising and walking nervously
about the room.

"Well, send Wang over, and have Grant stay there. Mrs. Burnam will be
willing to look out for him, I know; and he isn't likely to give them
any exposure,--the mischief would be done by this time, anyway. And then
you ought to go to--"

"I shall not go anywhere," she answered decidedly.

"But, Miss Everett, think of the danger of your taking the fever. I
shall have to quarantine the house, too; and Mrs. Pennypoker will be
here to take care of Ned."

Louise stopped in her restless walk, and turned to face the doctor, with
her head raised proudly and a scornful curve to her lips.

"Dr. Brownlee, do you think that I am a coward?" she asked with cutting
emphasis. "Ned may be very ill, and I could never leave him with Cousin
Euphemia."

"But the danger," he urged again feebly, although he felt that her
decision was the right one, and he admired her for it, even while he
shrank from the thought of her possible peril.

Louise looked steadily into his eyes.

"Ned is my brother," she said firmly, though her lips were quivering;
"and it is my right to stay. Besides, if anything should happen"--She
paused abruptly, while the tears rushed to her eyes.

"Just as you think best," said the doctor gently. "You are needlessly
alarmed to-night, Miss Everett. I will tell you the exact truth: Ned is
a very sick boy, but there is no present danger for him. I needn't say
that I shall do all I can to make it easier for you, but"--he hesitated;
then added, with one of his cheery laughs, "The fact is, I'm most
awfully glad that you insist on staying. Mrs. Pennypoker is a good
woman; but she's no nurse, and Ned needs somebody that's a little less
like a steam saw-mill, if he is going to be ill for a week or so. Now,
I'll go down and get a prescription or two put up, and stop to see Mrs.
Burnam about Grant's staying there, and then I'll be back again."

"But is it necessary?" remonstrated Louise, although she felt the
support of his presence, and was grateful for it. "Papa will be here
soon, or Wang can go; and you were going to the Fishers."

"The Fishers can get along without either of us to-night," he said
laughingly. "We'll have our party here; we seem to be all ready for it."
And he smiled meaningly at her dainty gown.

The door closed behind him, and Louise went quietly to her room, to take
off her gown and put on a soft white wrapp