oming--it's breaving on
me! Uncle _Robin_! oh----!"

I looked at Robin. He was sitting gripping the arms of his chair, with
every muscle in his body rigid; and I knew that he, like myself, was
praying God to strike down the cowardly devil that would torment a
child.

Then I heard, for the first time that night, the soothing murmur of
Kitty's voice.

"It's all right, dearie. Mother is holding you fast. It shan't hurt you.
There, it's running away now, isn't it? See!"

Kitty's tones would have lightened the torments of the Pit, and
Phillis's cries presently died down to an uneasy whisper. After a sudden
and curiously pathetic little outburst of singing,--chiefly a jumble of
scraps from such old favourites as "Onward, Christian _Sailors_!"--there
was silence again, and the Cathedral chimed out half-past four.

Shortly after this the doctor came out of the room with a message from
Kitty that I ought to be in bed. Evidently Dolly had told her about me.

"How is she now, doctor?" I whispered, disregarding the command.

"Up and down, up and down. She is making a brave fight of it, poor
lassie, but we can do little at present except stand by and give relief
when the bad fits come."

"May I go in and see her?"

"No, no! You could do no good, and she might be frightened if she caught
sight of a large dim figure in the dark. Leave it to the women, and
thank God for them. Hark!"

Phillis was back in Elysium again.

"Who's been eating my porridge?" said a gruff little voice. Then came a
rapturous shriek. Evidently the Little Bear had caught Curly Locks in
his bed. We sat listening, while the game ended and another followed in
its place. Suddenly she began to sing again--

"Then three times round went that gallant ship,
And three times round went she;
Then three times round went that gallant ship,
And--sank--to the--bottom of the sea--ea--ee--"

There was a little wailing _rallentando_, and silence.

"Philly, Philly, _don't_!" It was the only time that night that Kitty
gave any sign of breaking down. The doctor hurried back into the room.
The clock struck five.

* * * * *

After that there was a very long silence. It must have lasted nearly an
hour. Then Dolly tiptoed out to us.

"She's asleep," she whispered. "He says she's a shade better. I want
another coal-packet."

She took what Robin gave her, and faded away.

After that I think we dozed in our chairs.