stooping shoulders. He had never noticed Eva
very much; now he felt a sudden wave of pity for the little London
servant. She loved Geoffrey too in her queer way.

"Not me!" said Eva defiantly. "And 'im very near dyin'. I been
boilin' the kettle every hour or so, but none of 'em came out for tea.
Will _you_ 'ave a cup, sir?"

A refusal was on his lips, but he changed his mind.

"Thank you," he said gently. "And have one yourself, Eva."

"My word, I'll be glad of it," she said. "It's bitter cold, sittin'
out there." She tip-toed off to the kitchen. Mr. Linton stood,
hesitating, for a moment, and then went along the passage. A screen
blocked Geoffrey's doorway, and he peeped over it.

As he did so, Mrs. Hunt moved to the end of the bed. Geoffrey lay
exactly as he had been on the night before; so utterly still that it
was impossible to say whether he were alive or dead. Norah crouched
beside him, her hand still against his face.

Then, very slowly, Geoffrey turned, and opened his eyes.

"Mother!" he said. "Mother, I'm so thirsty!"

Mrs. Hunt was beside him as his eyelids had lifted. The nurse, moving
swiftly, handed her a little cup.

"Drink this, sweetheart." The mother raised his head, and Geoffrey
drank eagerly.

"That's awful nice," he said. "May I have some more?"

They gave him more, and put him back on the pillow. He looked at
Norah, who knelt by him silently.

"Wake up, old Norah--it's Reveille!" he said.

She smiled at him, and put her face on his, but she did not stir.
Suddenly the nurse saw Mr. Linton, and beckoned to him.

"Carry her--she can't move."

Norah felt her father's arm about her.

"Hold round my neck, dear," he said.

The nurse was at her other side. They raised her slowly, while she
clenched her teeth to keep back any sound that should tell of the
agony of moving--still smiling with her eyes on Geoffrey's sleepy
face. Then, suddenly, she grew limp in her father's arm.

"Fainted," murmured the nurse. "And a very good thing." She put her
arm round her, and they carried her out between them, and put her on a
sofa.

"I must go back to Geoffrey," the nurse said. "Rub her--rub her knees
hard, before she comes to. It's going to hurt her, poor child!" She
hurried away.

Geoffrey was lying quietly, his mother's head close to him. The nurse
put her hand on his brow.

"Nice and cool," she said. "You're a very good boy, Geoff; we'll
think about some breakfast