with a fever heat.

The old nursery expression, "hotty-cold," was a true description of that
miserable night, when she alternately shuddered and burnt, and when
morning came the dread word "pneumonia" was whispered from lip to lip.
A hospital nurse was called in to aid Mrs Saxon in the care of the two
patients. Rowena took over the housekeeping duties, and went about her
work with a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye. Poor, poor darling
Dreda! It was pitiful to hear her loud, painful breathing. Rowena's
heart stood still at the thought that Dreda's life was in danger--but
Guy was coming. Guy would take her in his arms; she would lay her tired
head on Guy's broad shoulder, and be comforted. Was it wrong to feel
that nothing, nothing in the world could be unbearable while Guy's arms
held her close?

Susan hurried over to The Meads whitefaced and trembling, longing to
help, to be of use; but Rowena waved aside her offers half-heard. She
could do nothing. The house was already too full; another inmate would
only be an additional burden. But Susan gently intimated that she was
not dreaming of offering her own presence. "I thought perhaps you would
let me have Maud. It must be lonely for Maud, and she may be a little
in your way. If you would let Maud stay with us for a time I would try
to make her happy."

"Oh, you nice Susan! Oh, Susan, how dear of you!" cried Rowena,
fervently. "No words can express the relief which it would be to get
rid of Maud just now. She doesn't know what to do with herself, and she
follows us about all over the house, asking questions from morning till
night--millions of questions--and she makes mother cry, and upsets the
maids, and drops things with a bang outside Dreda's door when they are
trying to make her sleep, and--and,"--the colour rose in Rowena's smooth
cheeks--"you can't get away from her. She's always there! It _would_
be sweet of you to take her, but I'm afraid you'd be very bored."

"No," said Susan simply, "I couldn't be bored. It's the only way in
which I can help Dreda. The more difficult it is the better I shall be
pleased."

Rowena looked at her in silence. Little, plain, insignificant Susan
Webster, whom an hour ago she had pitied with all her heart. She had no
Guy to love her. Considering her unattractive exterior, and the
inherent love of men for beauty and charm, it was exceedingly doubtful
whether she ever _would_ have a Guy. But she understo