hat I have any
special fault to find with you, Miss Iris, nor, indeed, for that
matter, with Master Apollo; but it's the two younger ones. They are
handfuls, and no mistake."

"I like being a handfu' 'cept when I'm sick," said Orion. "I don't
want to be a handfu' to-day. Please, Iris, don't mek me take that
horrid medicine."

"He must take it, Miss Iris; he won't be better till he do," said the
nurse, lifting up the glass as she spoke and stirring the contents
with a spoon. "Come, now, sir, be a brave boy. Just open your mouth
and get it down. Then you'll drop asleep, and when you wake you will
probably be quite well."

Orion pressed his lips very tightly together.

"You'll take the medicine for me, Orion?" said Iris.

"No, I can't," he moaned.

"Oh, but, darling! just try and think. Remember you are a giant--a
grand, great giant, with your girdle and your sword, and this medicine
is just an enemy that you have got to conquer. Here now; open your
mouth and get it down. Think of mother, Orion. She would like you to
take it."

Orion still kept his mouth very firmly shut, but he opened his sweet,
dark eyes and looked full at his sister.

"Would mother really like it?" he said at last, in a whisper.

"Of course; it would make her ever so happy."

"And will she know about it, Iris?"

"I think she will. Maybe she is in the room with us just now."

"Oh, lor'! what awful talk to say to the child," murmured Simpson to
herself.

"If I really thought mother could see, and if I really thought--"
began the little boy.

"Yes, yes, she can see!" said Iris, going on her knees and clasping
both the little fellow's hands in one of hers. "She can see, she does
know, and she wants her own brave giant to be a giant to the end. Now,
here is the enemy; open your mouth, conquer it at one gulp."

"Well, to be sure," whispered Simpson.

Orion, however, did not glance at Simpson. He gazed solemnly round the
room as if he really saw someone; then he fixed his brown eyes on his
sister's face, then he opened his mouth very wide. She instantly took
the cup and held it to the little lips. Orion drained off the nauseous
draught and lay back, panting, on his pillow.

"It was a big thing to conquer. I am a fine giant," he said, when he
returned the empty cup to Iris.

"Yes, you are a splendid old chap," she replied.

At that moment Mrs. Dolman and Miss Ramsay entered the room.

"Has Orion taken his medicine?" said Mrs. Dolman.