," Mrs.
Ferris said, with rather dry composure, as she sat by the bed. "If Fred
had not been at hand you would have been in danger, certainly. But, as
things are, it is simply a matter of keeping you warm for a few hours.
Your face will be painful, I am afraid, for some days; but happily it is
only a bad bruise."

"I thought I could manage the jump so nicely," sighed Mittie.

"It was a pity you tried. Now, Mittie, I am going to ask you a question,
and I want a clear answer. Will you tell me frankly--did Joan _wish_ to
stay at home to-day, and to send you in her stead?"

Mittie was so subdued that she had no spirit for a fight. "No," came in
a whisper. "I--she--she wanted awfully to come. And I--wouldn't stay at
home. And Grannie didn't like to spare us both."

"Ah, I see!" Mrs. Ferris laid a kind hand on Mittie. "I am glad you have
told me; and you are sorry now, of course. That will make all the
difference. Now I am going to send Fred to tell your sister what has
happened, and to say that you will be here till to-morrow."

"Couldn't he bring Joan? I do want her so!"

"I'm not sure that that will be possible."

But to Fred, when retailing what had passed, she added: "You had better
motor over. And if you can persuade Joan to come, so much the better--to
sleep, if possible; if not, we can send her home later."

Fred was off like a shot. The motor run was a very short affair compared
with going by boat. On arrival, he found the front door of Mrs. Wills's
house open; and he caught a glimpse of a brown head within the
bow-window of the breakfast-room.

If he could only find Joan alone! He ventured to walk in without
ringing.

Alone, indeed, Joan was, trying to darn a pair of stockings, and finding
the task difficult. It had been such a long, long day--longer even for
her than for Mittie.

[Sidenote: "Fred!"]

"Come in," she said, in answer to a light tap. And the last face that
she expected to see appeared. "_Fred!_" broke from her. "Mr. Ferris!"

"No, please--I like 'Fred' best!" He came close, noting with joy how her
face had in an instant parted with its gravity. "Why did you not come to
us to-day?" he asked earnestly.

"I couldn't."

"Not--because you wanted to stay away?"

"Oh no!"

"Could not your sister have been the one at home?"

Joan spoke gently. "You see, Mittie has never before spent a day at your
house. She wanted it so much."

"And you--did you want it, too--ever so little? Would you