digging her little white teeth
into it in the hope of averting any further argument. "Michael
doesn't want more, he had Geoff's."

"Geoff's? But didn't Geoff eat any?"

"Geoff's silly to-night," said his sister. "Fancy not bein' hungry
when there was choc'lit cakes!"

"I hope he didn't get too tired," Norah said to herself anxiously.
"I'll hurry up and get them all to bed."

She bathed Michael and Alison, with Eva in attendance, and tucked them
up. They were very sleepy--too sleepy to be troubled that Mother was
not there to kiss them good night; indeed, as Norah bent over Michael,
he thought she was his mother, and murmured, "Mum-mum," in the dusk in
a little contented voice. Norah put her cheek down to the rose-leaf
one for a moment, and then hurried out.

"Geoff! Where are you, Geoff?"

"I'm here," said Geoffrey, from the back doorstep. He rose and came
towards her slowly. Something in his face made her vaguely uneasy.

"Ready for bed, old chap?" she asked. "Come on--are you tired?"

"My legs are tired," Geoffrey said. "And my head's queer. It keeps
turning round." He put out a little appealing hand, and Norah took it
in her own. It was burning hot.

"I--I wish Mother was home," the boy said.

Norah sat down and took him on her knee. He put his head against her.

"You must just let old Norah look after you until Mother comes back,"
she said gently. The memory of the fever in the village came to her,
and she turned sick with fear. For a moment she thought desperately
of what she must do both for Geoffrey and for the other children.

"I won't bath Master Geoff; he is tired," she said to Eva. She
carried the little fellow into his room and slipped off his clothes;
he turned in the cool sheets thankfully.

"Lie still, old man; I'll be back in a moment," Norah said. She went
out and called to Eva, reflecting with relief that the girl's hard
Cockney sense was not likely to fail her.

"Eva," she said, "I'm afraid Master Geoff is ill. You know there is
fever in the village, and I think he has it. I mustn't go near any
one, because I've been looking after him. Run over to the house and
tell Mr. Linton I would like him to come over--as quickly as possible.
Don't frighten him."

"Right-oh!" said Eva. "I won't be 'arf a tick."

Her flying feet thudded across the grass as Norah went back to the
room where Geoffrey was already sleeping heavily. She looked down at
the little face, flush