at hid in the woodshed,
and "wasn't it funny, I never heard a thing!" and then Jimmy stopped
short, for Priscilla had stepped to Aunt Marion's side at the little
desk, and Aunt Marion was very pale. Priscilla had thrown him one
warning glance, as though to say "Hush." But Aunt Marion asked a
question.

"What time did this happen, Jimmy?"

"Why, after twelve, the nurse told the doctor. But, _wasn't_ it funny
that I didn't hear a thing of it?"

"Hear what, Jimmy?" said a voice, and Sandy, an hour late for breakfast,
stood at the open door.

"Go fetch some water, quick!" said Priscilla, and Jim went like a shot,
for Sandy Ray stood just one moment, pallid and uncomprehending, then,
with a cry, sprang to his mother's side, for her eyes had closed, her
head was drooping on Priscilla's arm. "Don't touch her, Sandy! Let
me----It's--it'll be over in a minute! She has had one or two little
turns like this!" And then Jim came running with a brimming glass. Mrs.
Ray sipped slowly, lifted her head, put forth a feeble, wavering hand
toward Sandy and faintly smiled. "How--foolish!" she muttered. "You
shall have your coffee in a moment, Sandy," but Priscilla, with
determined face, stood her ground and retained her hold. "Don't let her
rise yet," said she warningly, her eyes on his face, "and--don't ask
questions of anybody. Wait!"

For reasons of his own, Dr. Wallen, after hearing from the attendant of
the stifled scream downstairs at 12:25, gave instructions to speak of it
to nobody but the post surgeon when he came. He did not see, he did not
ask to see, Madame. He did not wish to see Felicie, but that ubiquitous
young person was on the landing and the verge of tears. Madame's rest
also had been cruelly disturbed by this disturbance the most
disreputable made by these _miserables_, the _domestiques_ of _Monsieur
le Commandant_. Madame not until after dawn had been able to repose
herself, and as for Felicie, "me who you speak," nothing but the
pathetic condition of Madame could persuade her to remain another day in
a such establishment, wherein she, the experienced, the
most-recommended, the companion of high nobility, the all-devoted, had
been subject to insolence the most frightful----at which point the rear
door to the landing opened, and in came cook, all bristling for combat,
and the wordy battle would have reopened then and there but for Wallen's
stern, "Silence, both of you! Pull each other's hair to your heart's
conten