the hack driver to carry to Hartley on
his trip the following day. She had intended all fall to go with him
and select a winter headpiece that would be no discredit to her summer
choice, but a sort of numbness was in her bones; so she decided to wait
until the coming week before going. She declined George's pressing
invitation to go along to Aunt Ollie's and help load and bring home a
part of his share of their summer's crops, on the ground that she had
some work to prepare for the coming week.

Then Kate went to her room feeling faint and heavy. She lay there most
of the day, becoming sorrier for herself, and heavier every passing
hour. By morning she was violently ill; when she tried to leave her
bed, dizzy and faint. All day she could not stand. Toward evening, she
appealed to George either to do something for her himself, or to send
for the village doctor. He asked her a few questions and then,
laughing coarsely, told her that a doctor would do her no good, and
that it was very probable that she would feel far worse before she felt
better. Kate stared at him in dumb wonder.

"But my school!" she cried. "My school! I must be able to go to
school in the morning. Could that spring water have been infected with
typhus? I've never been sick like this before."

"I should hope not!" said George. And then he told her bluntly what
caused her trouble. Kate had been white to begin with, now she slowly
turned greenish as she gazed at him with incredulous eyes. Then she
sprang to her feet.

"But I can't be ill!" she cried. "I can't! There is my school! I've
got to teach! Oh, what shall I do?"

George had a very clear conception of what she could do, but he did not
intend to suggest it to her. She could think of it, and propose it
herself. She could not think of anything at that minute, because she
fainted, and fell half on the bed, half in his arms as he sprang to
her. He laid her down, and stood a second smiling triumphantly at her
unheeding face.

"Easy snap for you this winter, Georgie, my boy!" he muttered. "I
don't see people falling over each other to get to you for professional
services, and it's hard work anyway. Zonoletics are away above the
head of these country ignoramuses; blue mass and quinine are about
their limit."

He took his time to bathe Kate's face. Presently she sat up, then fell
on the pillow again.

"Better not try that!" warned George. "You'll hurt yourself, and you
can