us out of our wits."

"Pete! You mean he's sick?"

"Yes, ma'am, he was. That is, he is, too--only he's better, now, thank
goodness," panted Eliza. "But he ain't hisself yet. He's that white and
shaky! Would you--could you--that is, would you mind if we didn't come
back till into the evenin', maybe?"

"Why, of course not," cried Pete's mistress, quickly. "Don't come a
minute before he's able, Eliza. Don't come until to-morrow."

Eliza gave a trembling little laugh.

"Thank you, ma'am; but there wouldn't be no keepin' of Uncle Pete here
till then. If he could take five steps alone he'd start now. But he
can't. He says he'll be all right pretty quick, though. He's had 'em
before--these spells--but never quite so bad as this, I guess; an' he's
worryin' somethin' turrible 'cause he can't start for home right away."

"Nonsense!" cut in Mrs. Bertram Henshaw.

"Yes'm. I knew you'd feel that way," stammered Eliza, gratefully. "You
see, I couldn't leave him to come alone, and besides, anyhow, I'd have
to stay, for mother ain't no more use than a wet dish-rag at such times,
she's that scared herself. And she ain't very well, too. So if--if you
_could_ get along--"

"Of course we can! And tell Pete not to worry one bit. I'm so sorry he's
sick!"

"Thank you, ma'am. Then we'll be there some time this evenin'," sighed
Eliza.

From the telephone Billy turned away with a troubled face.

"Pete _is_ ill," she was saying to herself. "I don't like the looks of
it; and he's so faithful he'd come if--" With a little cry Billy
stopped short. Then, tremblingly, she sank into the nearest chair.
"Calderwell--and he's coming to _dinner!_" she moaned.

For two benumbed minutes Billy sat staring at nothing. Then she ran to
the telephone and called the Annex.

Aunt Hannah answered.

"Aunt Hannah, for heaven's sake, if you love me," pleaded Billy, "send
Rosa down instanter! Pete is sick over to South Boston, and Eliza is
with him; and Bertram is bringing Hugh Calderwell home to dinner. _Can_
you spare Rosa?"

"Oh, my grief and conscience, Billy! Of course I can--I mean I
could--but Rosa isn't here, dear child! It's her day out, you know."

"O dear, of course it is! I might have known, if I'd thought; but Pete
and Eliza have spoiled me. They never take days out at meal time--both
together, I mean--until to-night."

"But, my dear child, what will you do?"

"I don't know. I've got to think. I _must_ do something!"

"Of course you