d! they were just as anxious and troubled as if Lobelia had
been one of their own number, instead of the most insignificant
freshman in the whole school. Miss Boyle was not simply a mathematical
machine, Rose Barclay found out. She really cared about them, cared
enough to call them into her room, and want to hear all about that last
walk, when Peggy had killed the rattlesnake,--oh, how brave Peggy had
been,--and how poor Lobelia had seen it, too, and with her inborn terror
of snakes had perhaps got the first panic that, after brooding and
brooding, and being added to the terror by nights, had ended in this.

Miss Pugsley was gone. Her departure had hardly been noticed, was
well-nigh forgotten by this time; but Colney Hatch found Miss Mink
sniffing mouse-like sniffs in a corner, and wept with her, and offered
her a live bat that she had just caught, by way of consolation. But
their tears were for Grace, for they hardly knew Lobelia save by sight.

As for Miss Russell and Emily Cortlandt, they were the life and stay of
the school in these days. Steadfast and cheerful, always hopeful,
bringing forward every favourable symptom and sharing it with the whole
school; not a girl of all the seventy-odd who did not feel their
sympathy and friendship like strong hands ready to take theirs and
uphold them.

One day, when things were at the worst, Peggy found Viola in her room,
crying on the divan.

"What is the matter?" she asked, rather briefly. Viola's troubles seemed
microscopic in this time of heart-wringing anxiety.

Viola raised her head, and her eyes were red with weeping.

"They say she's going to die, Peggy!" she said.

"Nonsense!" said Peggy, gruffly. "Who says so?"

"Oh, all the girls. They say Doctor Hendon shook his head when he went
out this morning; you know that's a very bad sign. Oh, Peggy, I wish I
had been good to the poor little thing. You have always been good to
her. I don't believe you suffered as much as I did from her clothes, but
I wish I had been good to her all the same. Peggy, if she gets well, I'm
going to do over her hats for her, and try to make her look different.
Peggy, where are you going? Don't leave me! Lobelia is going to die, and
I feel so frightened."

"I don't believe she is going to die," said Peggy. "I am going to the
study to see Miss Russell; come with me if you like, V."

Viola crept along beside her, cowering in Peggy's shadow as they passed
the door of the sick-room. Peggy