ve in. In the night he had a pain and got scared. He
rang for the nurses, and was sure he was going to die. They had to sit
up with him all night and rub him, and he groaned, and told them what
to tell his mother and said he knew all along he could never pull
through. But the nurse gave him some castor oil, and made him take it,
and finally he went to sleep. And every one is having a grand time
with him this morning."

Nancy joined, rather grudgingly, in their laughter.

"Oh, I suppose funny things happen. I know that. But what's the use
of laughing when we are all half dead?"

"I'm not. Not within a mile of it. You brag about yourself if you
like, but count me out."

"Hello, Preacher! How are you making it to-day?"

They all turned to the window, greeting warmly the man who stood
outside, leaning heavily on two canes.

"Miss Tucker, won't you meet Mr. Nevius?"

In response to the repeated inquiry, David said, "Just fine this
morning. How are you?"

"Oh, I am more of an acquisition than ever. I think I have a bug in my
heart." He turned to Miss Tucker cheerfully. "I am really the pride
of the institution. I've got 'em in the lungs and the throat and the
digestive apparatus, and the bones, and the blood, and one doctor
includes the brain. But I flatter myself that I've developed them in a
brand-new place, and I'm trying to get the rest of the chasers to take
up a collection and have me stuffed for a parlor ornament."

"How does a bug in the heart feel?"

"Oh, just about like love. I really can't tell any difference myself.
It may be one, it may be the other. But whichever it is I think I
deserve to be stuffed. Hey, Barrows!" he called suddenly, balancing
himself on one cane and waving a summons with the other. "Come across!
New lunger is here, young, good-looking. I saw her first! Hands off!"

Barrows rushed up as rapidly as circumstances permitted, and looked
eagerly inside.

"It is my turn," he said reproachfully. "You are not playing fair. I
say we submit this to arbitration. You had first shot at Miss
Landbury, didn't you?"

"I am not a nigger baby at a county fair, three shots for ten cents,"
interrupted Nancy resentfully. But when the others laughed at her
ready sally, she joined in good-naturedly.

"You don't look like a lunger," said Barrows, eying her critically.

"Mr. Duke thinks I came out for the benefit of my disposition."

"Good idea." Nevius jerked a note-book