he seemed just the same. He almost always lies down
when he comes home now. You know that."

"Forgive me, Lyddy!" exclaimed 'Phemie, contritely. "Of course you are
just as careful of father as you can be. But--but it's so _awful_ to see
him lie like this."

"He fainted without my knowing a thing about it," moaned Lyddy.

"Oh! if it's only just a faint----"

"He couldn't even have heard the noise upstairs over the fire."

Just then a stream of water descended through the cracked bedroom ceiling,
first upon the back of 'Phemie's neck, and then upon the drugget which
covered the floor.

"Suppose _this_ ceiling falls, too?" wailed Lyddy, wringing her hands.

"I hope not! And we'll have to pay the doctor when he comes, Lyd. Have
you got money enough in your purse?"

"I--I guess so."

"I'll not have any more after this week," broke out 'Phemie, suddenly.
"They told me to-day the rush for Easter would be over Saturday night and
they would have to let me go till next season. Isn't that mean?"

Lydia Bray had sat down upon the edge of their father's bed.

"I guess everything _has_ happened at once," she sighed. "I don't see what
we shall do, 'Phemie."

There came a scream from Aunt Jane. She charged into the bedroom wildly,
the back of her dress all wet and her bonnet dangling over one ear.

"Why, your parlor ceiling is just spouting water, girls!" she cried.

Then she turned to look closely at the man on the bed. "John Bray looks
awful bad, Lyddy. What does the doctor say?"

Before her niece could reply there came a thundering knock at the hall
door.

"The doctor!" cried 'Phemie.

Lyddy feared it was the young stranger returning, and she could only gasp.
What should she say to him if he came in? How introduce him to Aunt Jane?

But the latter lady took affairs into her own hands at this juncture and
went to the door. She unlocked and threw it open. Several helmets and
glistening rubber coats appeared vaguely in the hall.

"Getting wet down here some; aren't you?" asked one of the firemen. "We'll
spread some tarpaulins over your stuff. Fire's out--about."

"And the water's _in_," returned Aunt Jane, tartly. "Nice time to come and
try to save a body's furniture----"

"Get it out of the adjusters. They'll be around," said the fireman, with
a grin.

"How much insurance have you, Lyddy?" demanded the aunt, when the firemen,
after covering the already wet and bedraggled furniture, had clumped
out in their h