slept on, but the little woman lay awake with her
wide-open eyes staring straight into the darkness, and the dreadful
pain in hand and arm banishing all possibility of slumber.

CHAPTER VI.

In the morning Grannie got up as usual. She was very white and shaky,
but she had no intention of complaining. The pain from which she was
suffering had somewhat abated, but the poor hand and arm felt tired and
very feeble. She longed for the comfort of a sling, but decided not to
wear one; the children would all notice it and pass remarks, and
Grannie could not bear to be commented upon. She did not want to add
trouble to trouble just now. She resolved to forget herself in
thoughts of Alison and the others. She was early in the kitchen, but
to her relief and pleasure found David there before her. Next to
Alison, David was Grannie's favorite. He was thoughtful and
considerate. He was a great big manly fellow, but there was also a
very sweet feminine element in him; he could be domestic without being
in the least girlish. He was devoted to Grannie, and often, tired as
he was when he went to bed, got up early in the morning to save her
work. He had turned on the gas, and the first thing he noticed now,
when she came in, was her worn, puckered little face.

"Why, Grannie, you are out of sorts," he said. "Why did you get up so
early? Surely Ally and me can manage the bit of work. But, I say, you
are all of a tremble. Set down, and I'll get ye a cup of tea in a
minute."

"No, Dave, no!" said the old woman, "'twill soon pass--'twill soon
pass; the rheumatis in my hand and arm has been bothering me all night,
and it makes me a bit shaky; but 'twill soon pass, Dave. We mustn't
waste the tea, you know, lad; and I won't have a cup--no, I won't."

"Well, set there and rest," said the young man. "Thank goodness, I
aint ashamed to work, and I'm real proud to put the kitchen straight
and tidy. See how bright the fire is already; you warm your toes,
Grannie, and you'll soon be better."

"So I will, to be sure," said Mrs. Reed, rubbing her hands and sinking
into the chair which David had brought forward.

She gazed into the cheery flames, with her own bright-blue eyes, clear
and steady. Then she looked straight up at David, who was in the act
of filling the kettle and placing it on the top of the stove.

"David," she said, "stoop down a minute; I have a word or two to say."

David dropped on his knees at once, an