and of the most malignant type.

"What is it?" said Rosamund, now turning to Laura, who sat down on the
edge of her bed. "You think I have no heart, but you are mistaken."

Her bright eyes filled with tears, and Laura was softened at once.

"I knew you had a heart, dear," she said. "But the fact is, you never
understood Lucy. I like Lucy, and you don't--there lies the difference
between us. Lucy misunderstood you. She said that, instead of going to
bed, you were making a most awful noise, reciting poetry to yourself in
two distinct voices, and that an extraordinary noise came from under the
bed, and you declared it was rats. But she thinks you are a sort of
ventriloquist, and can throw your voice anywhere you like. She was
absolutely frightened, and rushed out of the room."

"Well, the doctor arrived about two o'clock in the morning, and he
stayed until early morning; and now the whole school knows, and what is
to be done is more than I can tell. The doctor wants us all to leave the
house."

"I shan't go," said Rosamund stoutly.

"What do you mean, Rose? You mustn't think of yourself at a moment like
this."

"I shall stay and nurse Jane. She is my friend. Don't keep me, please,
Laura. What a horrible creature I have been! Oh, dear! oh, dear! Do you
know where the Professor is, Laura?"

"I believe he is out, but I don't know. Mrs. Merriman is looking after
Jane at present. But, Rose, you won't be allowed to see her. The doctor
has forbidden any single individual except Mrs. Merriman to go into her
room, or to have anything whatever to do with her. You mustn't disobey
orders. A trained nurse is coming, and will be here in a very short
time. Perhaps there will be two nurses. They are going to try that new
treatment--antitoxin. Poor Jane's room is not so very far from where I
sleep, and I heard her groaning in the night. To think of our all being
so happy yesterday, and now this coming!"

"I know," said Rosamund in a low tone. She had never expressed herself
so before. There was a lump in her throat.

Laura went away and soon entered the schoolroom, where Lucy and the
other girls, all looking pale and anxious, were standing about. Laura
went straight up to Lucy.

"Well," said Lucy, "is that thoughtless, heartless creature awake yet?
Is she thinking of any one but herself?"

"Oh, yes, I woke her. She isn't heartless. I wish just at present, when
we are in such anxiety, you would try to be kinder, Lucy, and"----