"Nell.""Yes, asthore?""P'raps those people who throwed theirselves off the monnyment thought they couldfly. Do you think they did, Nell?""Very likely. Try not to think about them, Atom.""I—I can't help it, Nell. Do you think God would make the ground soft so's it wouldn't hurtverymuch?""Yes, dear.""Up again?""I—I'm 'fraid I'll burn all up, Nell!"She took the hot little hands into hers. Sheila Pat rested her head wearily against her arm."Is Denis comin' now, Nell?""In an hour, now, sweetheart.""I'm so thirsty, Nell."Nell fetched the toast water."I don't want that! I want real water. Mayn't I have justonedrink?""Try this, dear. You mustn't have any more plain water."She drank a little."Have you ever been up three hundred and forty-five steps, Nell? It does make your legs ache, but I wouldn't have minded that—if— There was only smoke and houses, Nell—"She dropped back on to her pillow and buried her head in it."Some day you'll see it,"—Nell's voice shook a little—"see the greenness of it—the—""I shouldn't wonder if I'm dead before then," the Atom told her pillow with heartsick pessimism."Oh, Sheila Pat! That's not like you. You've had colds before, and been so brave!""They were different colds." The pillow was dented deep as she burrowed her head feverishly in her puzzlement. "I feel quite diffrent. I think I've got a coldinsideas well asoutsidethis time, Nell."Nell looked at the dark little head in the pillow, and her eyes filled with tears.Sheila Pat started kicking."My legs ache so, Nell! I can't keep them still.""Let me rub them.""Where's Molly?""I sent her away to keep you quiet. Do you want her?"She shook her head."Isn't Denis comin' yet?""Very soon now, dear. Does rubbing make them a little better?""Yes, thank you, but I—I'm so hot, Nell! I feel as if it's never rained for years and years! Please may I have my Pearl?"Nell fetched him. He squeaked angrily and protestingly."I don't want him, thank you. S'pose I gave him my cold? Will you put him back in his cage, please?"Nell took him away, came back, and tucked her in afresh."Now try to sleep, sweetheart.""I don't b'lieve I'll ever go to sleep again. I feel most as if they've burnt eye-holes all round my head."She heard him coming. She knelt upon the bed quivering and shaking with sick eagerness."Well, poor little invalid!" His big arms went round her. "Wasn't it a little goose to go and catch cold? And the people worrying over you! Pennington sent his compliments, and Lancaster his love. Has she been a good Atom, Nell?""I—I'm very worryin'. I'm not very brave," she confided to his shoulder."Yes, she is, but she can't go to sleep.""Denis, might I get up—just for one minute?""On to my knee. Come along. Plenty of blankets.""I do b'lieve I'll scorch you." Eagerly she snuggled into his arms."When I smell burning, I'll put you back into your bed. Head ache, old girl?""Yes. I s'pose it couldn't grow any bigger in one could it? Itfeelsso big and heavy.""That's because it's full of all the sleep you ought to have had."When he was going, she stopped him:—"Denis, there aren'tmanypeople who—who have throwed theirselves off the monnyment, are there?""Bless you, no! Only one or two poor lunatics who didn't know what they were doing!""Perhaps it wouldn't hurt a lunytic quite so much?""Not it! You see, the poor things wouldn't be feeling the same as ordinary people—they'd all be dulled and heavy. Don't think of them, there's a good old Atom!""Denis, will you come back before you go to the bank again?""Why, yes, asthore! I won't be long over lunch."The long, weary day dragged slowly on. Sheila Pat set all her hardy will to work, and succeeded in silencing her tongue. But Nell, looking at the restless little head tossing, turning, burrowing into the pillows; at the great heavy, weary eyes; wished her will were not so strong. She was sure it would be better for the Atom to give way and cry her cry out. The puzzled look that she met again and again in her eyes, the seeking, despairing expression, wrung her heart. She knew that the poor Atom could not understand; that she was at war with Providence in a vague, bewildered way, and that she was heartsick for her country.Nell refused to leave her; but at last, in the afternoon, Miss Kezia, with strong common sense, put matters before her, and Nell went for a little walk with Molly. Miss Kezia betook herself and her knitting to the Atom's room. The Atom was lying with all the bedclothes off and trailing on the floor. Miss Kezia put them on again in silence. Sudden wicked feverish battle leapt to the Atom's eyes. Directly Miss Kezia had sat down she kicked them off again. Miss Kezia rose and rearranged them. When this had taken place four times, Sheila Pat lay exhausted and breathing hard, but in her eyes there still lurked battle."Please will you fetch my Pearl?" She watched triumphantly. "If you don't, I'll go and fetch him myself."Miss Kezia hesitated."I will!" the Atom said firmly."I'll bring him up in his cage." Miss Kezia rose.The triumph fell away from the flushed, restless face."I don't want him, thank you. I'm afraid of givin' him my cold.""Very well," patiently.Sheila Pat watched her a minute."May I have some toast water, please?"Pause."I've dropped my handkerchief out of bed, Aunt Kezia."Pause."Please will you readrange my pillow?"Pause."May I have some more water, please, Aunt Kezia?"Then Sheila Pat chuckled hysterically at the idea of her being able to make her aunt trot about just as she wished. But the amusement palled; listless curiosity made her ask, "Why don't you tell me to be quiet, Aunt Kezia?"Miss Kezia looked at her over her knitting."You are feverish, and consequently restless. I conclude you would be as quiet as you could.""No, I wasn't! I was doin' it to worry you."Miss Kezia went on with her knitting."Are you cross, Aunt Kezia?""No, my dear, but I should be very glad if you could sleep a little.""I'll try," said Sheila Pat, touched. She screwed her hot eyelids up with earnest purpose."Aunt Kezia, didyouknow some people want to kill theirselves?"Miss Kezia looked across at the small face peering at her, excited, shrinking."Only a very few. It's not a nice subject for you to think about, Sheila.""They threw theirselves down off the monnyment—right down—""Not now. There is a—""I know. It's only poor people who are mad, isn't it?"Miss Kezia hesitated.Sheila Pat was sitting up; her eyes were terrified, wretched."Yes, my dear; they don't know what they are doing," Miss Kezia said gently. "Lie down."The room began to grow dim. Miss Kezia knitted on in the dusk, hoping the Atom would fall asleep. Suddenly her voice, shrill, impish, rang out:—"'The ould dame sat in a stiff'-backed chair,Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack, click!Sure she knitted of stockin's sixteen pairClick-clack, click!Her face was long and her temper shortPiff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff!Sure she worked in bad words more than she oughtPiff-pouff, piff!'"A chuckle."Are you cross, Aunt Kezia?""No.""Whyaren't you? Don't you think I asserve a cold?""You were naughty and foolish, and you are paying for it, but—" after a glance at the figure sitting up in the dusk, "I am sorry for you.""I don'twantyou to be sorry for me!"Sheila Pat flung herself back."'Her mouth was wide and her tongue was sharp'—Oh, go away! Go away!Quick—"Miss Kezia, to her own amazement, found herself obeying the strenuous voice, the note of real agony. As she hesitated outside the door she heard a sudden storm of sobs—a breathless, wild weeping, a smothered wail of woe. And she walked softly away, her face flushed, as if she had been guilty of some meanness. She stood inside her room awhile, then went back. She paused outside the door; all was silent. She turned the handle clumsily and went in. Sheila Pat lay in her bed, quiet and still; but Miss Kezia knew she was not asleep."I've fetched my red wool for the border," she said, and she told the falsehood—a thing abhorred of her rigid conscientiousness—with a ringing cheerfulness.Nell came in presently with a bowl of bread and milk. The Atom sat up listlessly."Aunt Kezia has been very patient," she said gravely. "Nell,pleaseneed I have any?" She leant her head against Nell's arm, and her fingers squeezed it lovingly."Just a little, sweet. Has she slept at all, Aunt Kezia?"No. Perhaps she will after her bread and milk."But she didn't. And as the evening wore on her temperature rose; her little burning face grew more desperate. She began to talk, feverishly, excitedly. Dr. Everton called again. He gave a few directions, and urged them to keep her mind as quiet as possible."Her temperature is very high. She hardly knows what she is saying. I believe she has something on her mind. I will call early to-morrow morning. No talk, please; shemustbe kept quiet.""Nell, people never want to kill theirselves in Ireland, do they? There's not a bad old monnyment there. It had three hundred million steps. The man said so. It wasveryhigh, you see, and I was glad, because I thought I'd be able to see over all the roofs, and I thought I'd see the sea and a blue mist and Ireland shinin' out—all green—oh, I want to go home, Nell! I want to go home!" She broke out into pitiful crying, too bad now to fight any longer."You shall soon—you shall soon—" Nell's arms were round her; her voice choked."I want to go now! S'pose I'm dead before mother and dad come back?—All green—and cool—I'm all scorchin', but I wouldn't be there—Oh, I want to go home! I want just tolookat it!—I'll come back quite quick—I b'lieve I'lldieif I don't go!—Molly O'Rourke died, because she went to America. I'll die, too—I'm allsickinside—" She shook all over with sobs; her voice rose to a wail of utter woe. "Imustsee it—all green—and the colt—oh, he can go—he'll be a fine horse, miss, entirely—look at the legs of him already!—Where's the sugar, then, you bad boy?Heknows!—All dirt and smoke and houses—and houses—and a great big monnyment where people kill theirselves. Nell, where are you?Nell—I b'lieve you're throwin' yourself off the monnyment—"She quieted down a little; her body shook with deep, silent sobs. She began whispering to herself."If I could just see you—just for one minute—just walk 'long on the grass—by the stream—and up the Kilsparran hill—and go and see Biddy—with the turf smokin' in my eyes—and smell it—" Then she broke out crying again."I want to go home! I want to go home!"Nell tried to soothe her. She was trembling herself; but the Atom's little body was torn and shaken with her awful weeping. She clung to Nell, crying out pitifully that she must go home—she must go home."I can't bear it any longer—I'm stiflin'—please—just to let mefeelit—I'll come back—so good—oh,please—I must go home! Oh, I want to go home! Where's Denis? I want Denis—""I'll go and fetch him, dear. Will you wait?"She went out on to the landing. He was walking up and down: he turned quickly.She shut the door quietly, and went to meet him. Her face was quite white; when she spoke, her voice shook."She wants you. She—she's crying for home—" Her lips quivered so that she could not go on. "I can't quiet her. She's—oh, I can't stand it, Denis!" She broke into sudden passionate tears."Don't cry, old girl. I'll see if I can quiet her."He went into the room. Sheila Pat was crouched up on her bed, moaning: "I want to go home! I want to go home!"She lifted her head, and her heavy eyes leapt to his with a wild gleam of hope. She stretched out her arms; she was shaking all over."Denis—oh, Denis—I want to go home!"He put his arms round her."Try to be good, Atom—try to be quiet, and go to sleep." His face worked; he bit his lip. "You'll go—some day," he said huskily."Let me go now—-I'll be so good—I won't stay a minute—if I can see it—justfeelit—and smell it—oh, Denis—Denis—I want to go home!""You shall go, Atom."There was a sudden breathless lull. She gave a little shiver."I—I didn't quite hear—" she whispered hoarsely.He glanced, his blue eyes desperate, across at Nell, then down at the wild, incredulous little face upturned to his. His eyes cleared, grew deeply tender."I said that you shall go." His voice was clear, firm. "Directly your cold has gone I will take you across for a few days if you still want to go."She dropped suddenly forward against his chest."Please hold me." Her faint little whisper told of sudden ineffable peace.They wrapped her in blankets, and he took her into his arms and walked up and down the room with her. She pulled her arm out of the coverings and stroked his cheek with a gesture almost of adoration."I don't think," a sudden passionate whisper came from her, "Godcanbe quite so nice as you!"Up and down he went."Try to go to sleep, Atom.""Yes, Denis."Presently she started trembling."Denis?""Yes, acushla.""Have—have I been asleep?""No.""—I didn'tdreamthat you—you said—""I said that when your cold is better, I will take you home for a few days."She gave a little wriggle and a snuggle of utter joy."I was 'fraid I'd dreamt it.""Denis,wouldyou mind keep sayin' it every now and then?"Nell sat by the fire and watched him tramp the room. Once Molly peeped round the door, but was frowned away. Once he tried to lay her down, but she objected with drowsy terror."Hold, me, Denis! Say it again!"Presently."Denis, if we took all the poor mad people to Ireland, wouldn't they get better, and not want to kill theirselves any more?—Please just say it again.""Where's Nell? I want to say good night to her."Nell came and kissed her softly."Poor Nell—may she come, too, Denis?—All green—and cool—I—I can most smell it already—I like lying my cheek on the grass—like—this—it's so—cool—it smells—all—wet—Please—say it—again."Up and down the room he went, while she slept in his arms. Nell signed to him to put her down, but he glanced down at the small white face in the blankets, and shook his head.But at last he put her into her bed, and covered her up. For a minute they stood waiting, but Sheila Pat lay still, her breathing soft and regular.Denis turned to Nell; he put his hand on her shoulder, marched her out of the room, and into the Stronghold.Molly was there, frightened and sleepy."She's all right now. Fast asleep. Go to bed, old girl.""It's been such a horrid day—is she really better?""Yes. I hope she'll be all right to-morrow. Scoot."Molly went yawning out of the room.They stood a minute, looking into the fire. Then Nell said:—"Denis, don't you think—it will make it worse—for her—after?"He answered without any hesitation:—"There wasn't any worse then."She dropped tiredly into a chair."No," she said.He seized the poker, and began hammering at a lump of coal."I suppose the money—" she worried."Can't be helped! Nell, Icouldn'tdo anything else! I—I couldn't stand it!"They were silent a little while. Presently he said:—"I don't believe she'll go. If I know the Atom when she's calm and all right, she'll stick to her guns. If she doesn't—if she still wants to go—I take her. The coming back—having it all over again—will be awful for her, but there was nothing else to do.""No," she agreed.CHAPTER XXX"Good morning, Atom."Nell bent caressingly over the bed, and laid her hand lightly on a cool little brow."Good mornin', Nell.""You're better, asthore, you're better." There was a gay lilt to her voice that told her relief, her joy, more plainly than her words."Yes," the Atom said. "Will I get up now, Nell?""Oh, no, dear, you must wait till Dr. Everton has been. Do you ache anywhere now?""Only a little."Nell looked down into the sombre eyes, then turned away.Sheila Pat lay stiff and still, her small face frowning a little, solemn, mournful.When Denis came cheerily in, she looked at him quickly, nervously, and her face flushed a little."Well, invalidish Atom, you'll soon be up and worrying me again, won't you?""Good mornin', Denis.""Pardon. Good morning. Aren't you going to give me a kiss?"She turned her face to his languidly. He looked at Nell and raised his eyebrows. Then he sat down on the bed and talked.Sheila Pat lay very quiet and answered monosyllabically."You're very unkind to me, Atom, you know."She gave him another odd little glance, and her face grew scarlet."I—I'm thinkin'," she stammered. "—I'm not unkind—""Of course you're not! I was joking. I must be off now. Good-bye.""Good-bye."When he had gone, she lifted her head."Nell, when is Dr. Everton comin'?""Any moment.""Nell—""Yes, dear?""I—I wish to speak to him—alone, please."For a moment Nell looked startled."There isn't anything—you don't mean there's some pain you haven't told us of?""No. I'm quite well now.""Very well. You shall, dear.""Thank you."Molly tiptoed into the room, knocked a photograph off the mantle shelf, bade the Atom a loudly whispered good morning, stood on one leg, then on the other, and tiptoed out again."Nell, isn't Dr. Everton here yet?""He will be presently, Atom.""Will he come straight up to me?""Oh, yes.""Are yousure? Perhaps he's talkin' to Aunt Kezia now?""I'll go and see," soothingly.In a few minutes he came. Miss Kezia came upstairs with him, but at Nell's request she followed her presently from the room, and left the doctor and the Atom alone."Dr. Everton!""Yes, my dear?"Pause.He looked down at her surprised. Sheila Pat was breathing hard; her eyes were wildly eager."Something is troubling you," he said gently. "Tell me what it is!"But she shrank back nervously into the bed."You see—I—""Well?" He felt the fluttering pulse again. "Tell me, little one.""Was I—" Pause; then, with a burst, "Was I 'lirious last night?""Now, now, you mustn't get nervous—"Her face stopped him. He rubbed his chin and studied her perplexedly. He was trying to discover what it was that she wanted."Was I?" She sat up, clung to the bed knob with one hand. "I—IthoughtI was!"The expressive voice held a note of despairing doubt in the last words that helped him."Well, you were very feverish and," he was feeling his way, "you certainly didn't quite know what you were saying—um! Yes, youweredelirious!" he finished with sudden heartiness. There was no doubting now what it was she wanted. At his words she sank down on to the pillow with a sort of little croon of relief."When a person's 'lirious she might say—sayveryfoolish things—she might—askfor things—she'd be 'shamed to if sheknew—"He was sure of his way now. He pulled his chair closer, and his clever face softened."I should think so, indeed. Why, now, there was a young lady I was attending,—she was quite grown-up, too,—and when she is well she's a very sensible sort of girl, but she was delirious, and what do you think she kept crying out for? Why, an elephant—a real, live elephant!"Sheila Pat laughed.He took her hand into his."Oh, yes, people say and do very queer things when they are delirious. I had a big boy once who wanted a doll, and another who wanted to start for Australia." He paused as he felt the hand in his give a little jerk."Do persons—often want to—to go somewhere when they're 'lirious?""Very often. It's one of the commonest wants, little one."Sheila Pat was smiling; she lay looking up at him, her face pale, tired, but very peaceful."You're going to be a good little girl, and keep very quiet, and take all your medicine—""I—I'm just goin' to be as good as—as snow-drops.""Why snowdrops?"She drew her brows together in thought. "I don't know: snowdrops are just good through and through."He smiled."I do think you're such a nice doctor," Sheila Pat said earnestly.When Nell crept in a few minutes later, she was fast asleep. When she woke, she took her medicine without a murmur."Is Denis home, Nell?""I think he's just come in. Yes, here he is."He entered with a beautiful bunch of parma violets."With Lancaster's compliments. Aren't you proud, Atom?""They are very beautiful," but her eye was absent.Nell took them and buried her nose in them."Denis, Dr. Everton says I was 'lirious last night.""Poor old Atom.""And—and he says when a person's 'lirious, they want elephants and Australia and—and to go to places—"There was a pause.The Atom turned her face a little away on the pillow."I remember—some—I—I didn't know what I was sayin', Denis—I—I wouldn't—have—said—it if—""Of course you wouldn't. We know that. But what I said holds good, Atom. If you want me to take you home for a few days, I will!"There was silence in the room. Sheila Pat had turned her face to the pillow and buried it deep. Nell stood, the violets pressed against her cheek, waiting."No—thank you." It came with a little catch between the two first words, but firm, decided.Denis bent his head suddenly, and whispered in her ear. She turned, stretched up her arms, and held him tight. Tears were running quietly down her face and dropping on to her nightgown, but Nell caught an ecstatically proud note in the whispered query, "Do you—really-truly—think I'm all that?"When he had gone, she turned to Nell."Am I very heavy, Nell?"Nell felt suddenly what a bit of a baby Sheila Pat was: she stroked her cheek gently."You weigh about as much as a good-sized robin. Why?""I do feel," wistfully, "I'd like to sit on your lap a little while!""Oh, petsums, come along."She fell asleep almost directly.That evening, wrapped in blankets, sitting in a large arm-chair, the Atom received three visitors.Stewart came first. He was very subdued, shy of this white-faced Atom in the blankets.He sat down and stared at her."You're to intertain me," she told him peremptorily.Stewart, just about to speak, at this awful mandate flushed and collapsed.Sheila Pat watched him relentlessly."Sure you Englisharequeer! Mum! Mum! Mum!""Do you feel better?" he burst out."You know I do, else I wouldn't be receivin' visitors."Silence."You're not intertainin' me," warned the Atom."I don't know how! I've never done it!""I think you're a very silly little boy, and you're not intertainin' me at all! You'd better go, I think."He got as far as the door."Tommy, come back!"He stood and faced her, his thin little body stretched to its utmost limit."I'm not alittleboy!""Tommy, how's Peter?"He came back eagerly."I say, what d'you think he swallowed yesterday?"Ted Lancaster came next."Mayn't I pull your pig-tail?" he asked gently."'Tisn't any manners you English have got at all!" Sheila Pat retorted."Ah, that's all right. 'Pon my word, when I came in you looked so good, I was afraid I'd never be allowed to be rude to you again. May I hide that medicine bottle? I do hate medicine bottles. They carry me back to a sick room of my own."She asked interestedly, "Were you 'lirious?""Rather!"She sat forward, her face alight with eagerness"Did you want a elephant and to go to Australia?""I don't know about the elephant. But I know I wanted to go to Australia, or anywhere else, so long as medicine bottles and beef-tea and thermometers didn't grow there."She hesitated, her eyes never leaving his face."But—but did you—did you say things—"He smiled."Yes, I said things, Sheila Pat!""Awful things? Things you'd never,neversay when you were well?""I hope I shouldn't!"A tired little frown creased her forehead."Did you—did youaskfor things?""Oh, yes, heaps of 'em! I nearly wept because they wouldn't give me my organ into bed with me. And foot-balls—I was always begging for foot-balls. And one night I insisted on its being imperative that I should start off for Paris—"Eagerly she interrupted, "Did you worry andworry?""They had to hold me down."She lay back in the pillows; she gave a little excited laugh."Aren't personsqueerwhen they're 'lirious?""Sheila Pat, catch hold!"He tilted a brown-paper parcel into her lap."It's a book about horses, and there're plenty of photographs in it, so will you forgive its not being Irish? And remember that I hate being thanked, Sheila Pat. If you thank me for it, I'll kiss you. So now you know."She was turning the pages with trembling fingers. He watched the expressive face as she bent over the beautiful photographs."Nell," Denis poked his head round the door, "may that conceited Atom receive another visitor? Mr. Yovil wants to see her.""Yes, with great pleasure!" shrilled out Sheila Pat, excitedly.She turned to Ted; she lifted up her face."I love it! Iloveit!""You're thanking me!"He bent and kissed her."I'm jealous," Mark Yovil said sadly, as he entered the room. "He isn't half so nice as I am, Sheila Pat! You ask my mother. She's down in Devonshire, but we could send her a wire. And you've never been his Social Prompter, have you? Please send him away, Sheila Pat!""I will, anyway," Nell laughed.Mark Yovil only stayed a few minutes. He looked at the Atom's excited face, her bright eyes, and talked quietly to Nell. Then he went.For a quarter of an hour Sheila Pat studied her precious book.Then Sarah appeared with a petition from Herr Schmidt for just a "beep at the little Miss Sheila."He came in, laboriously tiptoeing, beaming."Ze poor little invalid! You are better, hein?"Sheila Pat was very tired."I'm quite well, thank you," she responded, her manner exceedingly grown-up."There's only one thing about her that troubles us, Herr Schmidt," laughed Nell. "She's so good! She takes her medicine without a grimace! She's so meek and good I'm quite uneasy."Sheila Pat fidgeted restlessly. She explained earnestly. "I'm notreallygood! I'm doin' it for—for a reason of my own."Herr Schmidt seemed to think that exquisitely funny. He chuckled like a great fat baby."Ze funny little child!" he chuckled, "ze very funny little child."He took off his spectacles, rubbed them with a gigantic handkerchief, and said, "Ach, I forget!" He fumbled in his coat-tail pocket; he dragged forth a limp and very much sat upon brown-paper parcel. He eyed it proudly."Ach, zat is why I zink her so nice for a bed! See, I sit on her, but it does not matter!""Great Scott!" ejaculated Denis in Nell's ear.Herr Schmidt handed the parcel to Sheila Pat. He stood watching, beaming at her over his spectacles. Sheila Pat pulled off the paper; she gave a little gasp. There was a tense silence.The present was a baby doll—a rag baby doll.Nell quavered desperately, "What a fine colour it has!" And she averted her eyes hastily from the horrible, crimson-dabbed cheeks."You like her, little one?" Herr Schmidt's tone was anxious."Thank you," said Sheila Pat, in a subdued little voice. She stared fixedly into the fire, her head averted from the Thing in her lap."Ach, I zink berhaps she does not like it?" Herr Schmidt whispered loudly to Nell. "And I zink it so sweet!""She is tired. She has had too many visitors. It was so awfully kind of you to bring it for her, Herr Schmidt. I want her to go to sleep now."Sweetly Nell sped his departure. When he had gone, Sheila Pat, still with averted head, dropped her knee till the doll slid to the floor. She looked up at Nell, outraged dignity in every feature."Please take the—carrion thing—away!"And to Kate Kearney she presently whispered:—"Oh, K.K., he's never forgotten! He thinks I'm a baby! And it's all that petticoat! I knew it!"
"Nell."
"Yes, asthore?"
"P'raps those people who throwed theirselves off the monnyment thought they couldfly. Do you think they did, Nell?"
"Very likely. Try not to think about them, Atom."
"I—I can't help it, Nell. Do you think God would make the ground soft so's it wouldn't hurtverymuch?"
"Yes, dear."
"Up again?"
"I—I'm 'fraid I'll burn all up, Nell!"
She took the hot little hands into hers. Sheila Pat rested her head wearily against her arm.
"Is Denis comin' now, Nell?"
"In an hour, now, sweetheart."
"I'm so thirsty, Nell."
Nell fetched the toast water.
"I don't want that! I want real water. Mayn't I have justonedrink?"
"Try this, dear. You mustn't have any more plain water."
She drank a little.
"Have you ever been up three hundred and forty-five steps, Nell? It does make your legs ache, but I wouldn't have minded that—if— There was only smoke and houses, Nell—"
She dropped back on to her pillow and buried her head in it.
"Some day you'll see it,"—Nell's voice shook a little—"see the greenness of it—the—"
"I shouldn't wonder if I'm dead before then," the Atom told her pillow with heartsick pessimism.
"Oh, Sheila Pat! That's not like you. You've had colds before, and been so brave!"
"They were different colds." The pillow was dented deep as she burrowed her head feverishly in her puzzlement. "I feel quite diffrent. I think I've got a coldinsideas well asoutsidethis time, Nell."
Nell looked at the dark little head in the pillow, and her eyes filled with tears.
Sheila Pat started kicking.
"My legs ache so, Nell! I can't keep them still."
"Let me rub them."
"Where's Molly?"
"I sent her away to keep you quiet. Do you want her?"
She shook her head.
"Isn't Denis comin' yet?"
"Very soon now, dear. Does rubbing make them a little better?"
"Yes, thank you, but I—I'm so hot, Nell! I feel as if it's never rained for years and years! Please may I have my Pearl?"
Nell fetched him. He squeaked angrily and protestingly.
"I don't want him, thank you. S'pose I gave him my cold? Will you put him back in his cage, please?"
Nell took him away, came back, and tucked her in afresh.
"Now try to sleep, sweetheart."
"I don't b'lieve I'll ever go to sleep again. I feel most as if they've burnt eye-holes all round my head."
She heard him coming. She knelt upon the bed quivering and shaking with sick eagerness.
"Well, poor little invalid!" His big arms went round her. "Wasn't it a little goose to go and catch cold? And the people worrying over you! Pennington sent his compliments, and Lancaster his love. Has she been a good Atom, Nell?"
"I—I'm very worryin'. I'm not very brave," she confided to his shoulder.
"Yes, she is, but she can't go to sleep."
"Denis, might I get up—just for one minute?"
"On to my knee. Come along. Plenty of blankets."
"I do b'lieve I'll scorch you." Eagerly she snuggled into his arms.
"When I smell burning, I'll put you back into your bed. Head ache, old girl?"
"Yes. I s'pose it couldn't grow any bigger in one could it? Itfeelsso big and heavy."
"That's because it's full of all the sleep you ought to have had."
When he was going, she stopped him:—
"Denis, there aren'tmanypeople who—who have throwed theirselves off the monnyment, are there?"
"Bless you, no! Only one or two poor lunatics who didn't know what they were doing!"
"Perhaps it wouldn't hurt a lunytic quite so much?"
"Not it! You see, the poor things wouldn't be feeling the same as ordinary people—they'd all be dulled and heavy. Don't think of them, there's a good old Atom!"
"Denis, will you come back before you go to the bank again?"
"Why, yes, asthore! I won't be long over lunch."
The long, weary day dragged slowly on. Sheila Pat set all her hardy will to work, and succeeded in silencing her tongue. But Nell, looking at the restless little head tossing, turning, burrowing into the pillows; at the great heavy, weary eyes; wished her will were not so strong. She was sure it would be better for the Atom to give way and cry her cry out. The puzzled look that she met again and again in her eyes, the seeking, despairing expression, wrung her heart. She knew that the poor Atom could not understand; that she was at war with Providence in a vague, bewildered way, and that she was heartsick for her country.
Nell refused to leave her; but at last, in the afternoon, Miss Kezia, with strong common sense, put matters before her, and Nell went for a little walk with Molly. Miss Kezia betook herself and her knitting to the Atom's room. The Atom was lying with all the bedclothes off and trailing on the floor. Miss Kezia put them on again in silence. Sudden wicked feverish battle leapt to the Atom's eyes. Directly Miss Kezia had sat down she kicked them off again. Miss Kezia rose and rearranged them. When this had taken place four times, Sheila Pat lay exhausted and breathing hard, but in her eyes there still lurked battle.
"Please will you fetch my Pearl?" She watched triumphantly. "If you don't, I'll go and fetch him myself."
Miss Kezia hesitated.
"I will!" the Atom said firmly.
"I'll bring him up in his cage." Miss Kezia rose.
The triumph fell away from the flushed, restless face.
"I don't want him, thank you. I'm afraid of givin' him my cold."
"Very well," patiently.
Sheila Pat watched her a minute.
"May I have some toast water, please?"
Pause.
"I've dropped my handkerchief out of bed, Aunt Kezia."
Pause.
"Please will you readrange my pillow?"
Pause.
"May I have some more water, please, Aunt Kezia?"
Then Sheila Pat chuckled hysterically at the idea of her being able to make her aunt trot about just as she wished. But the amusement palled; listless curiosity made her ask, "Why don't you tell me to be quiet, Aunt Kezia?"
Miss Kezia looked at her over her knitting.
"You are feverish, and consequently restless. I conclude you would be as quiet as you could."
"No, I wasn't! I was doin' it to worry you."
Miss Kezia went on with her knitting.
"Are you cross, Aunt Kezia?"
"No, my dear, but I should be very glad if you could sleep a little."
"I'll try," said Sheila Pat, touched. She screwed her hot eyelids up with earnest purpose.
"Aunt Kezia, didyouknow some people want to kill theirselves?"
Miss Kezia looked across at the small face peering at her, excited, shrinking.
"Only a very few. It's not a nice subject for you to think about, Sheila."
"They threw theirselves down off the monnyment—right down—"
"Not now. There is a—"
"I know. It's only poor people who are mad, isn't it?"
Miss Kezia hesitated.
Sheila Pat was sitting up; her eyes were terrified, wretched.
"Yes, my dear; they don't know what they are doing," Miss Kezia said gently. "Lie down."
The room began to grow dim. Miss Kezia knitted on in the dusk, hoping the Atom would fall asleep. Suddenly her voice, shrill, impish, rang out:—
"'The ould dame sat in a stiff'-backed chair,Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack, click!Sure she knitted of stockin's sixteen pairClick-clack, click!Her face was long and her temper shortPiff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff!Sure she worked in bad words more than she oughtPiff-pouff, piff!'"
"'The ould dame sat in a stiff'-backed chair,Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack, click!Sure she knitted of stockin's sixteen pairClick-clack, click!Her face was long and her temper shortPiff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff!Sure she worked in bad words more than she oughtPiff-pouff, piff!'"
"'The ould dame sat in a stiff'-backed chair,
Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack, click!
Sure she knitted of stockin's sixteen pair
Click-clack, click!
Her face was long and her temper short
Piff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff-pouff, piff!
Sure she worked in bad words more than she ought
Piff-pouff, piff!'"
A chuckle.
"Are you cross, Aunt Kezia?"
"No."
"Whyaren't you? Don't you think I asserve a cold?"
"You were naughty and foolish, and you are paying for it, but—" after a glance at the figure sitting up in the dusk, "I am sorry for you."
"I don'twantyou to be sorry for me!"
Sheila Pat flung herself back.
"'Her mouth was wide and her tongue was sharp'—
"'Her mouth was wide and her tongue was sharp'—
"'Her mouth was wide and her tongue was sharp'—
Oh, go away! Go away!Quick—"
Miss Kezia, to her own amazement, found herself obeying the strenuous voice, the note of real agony. As she hesitated outside the door she heard a sudden storm of sobs—a breathless, wild weeping, a smothered wail of woe. And she walked softly away, her face flushed, as if she had been guilty of some meanness. She stood inside her room awhile, then went back. She paused outside the door; all was silent. She turned the handle clumsily and went in. Sheila Pat lay in her bed, quiet and still; but Miss Kezia knew she was not asleep.
"I've fetched my red wool for the border," she said, and she told the falsehood—a thing abhorred of her rigid conscientiousness—with a ringing cheerfulness.
Nell came in presently with a bowl of bread and milk. The Atom sat up listlessly.
"Aunt Kezia has been very patient," she said gravely. "Nell,pleaseneed I have any?" She leant her head against Nell's arm, and her fingers squeezed it lovingly.
"Just a little, sweet. Has she slept at all, Aunt Kezia?
"No. Perhaps she will after her bread and milk."
But she didn't. And as the evening wore on her temperature rose; her little burning face grew more desperate. She began to talk, feverishly, excitedly. Dr. Everton called again. He gave a few directions, and urged them to keep her mind as quiet as possible.
"Her temperature is very high. She hardly knows what she is saying. I believe she has something on her mind. I will call early to-morrow morning. No talk, please; shemustbe kept quiet."
"Nell, people never want to kill theirselves in Ireland, do they? There's not a bad old monnyment there. It had three hundred million steps. The man said so. It wasveryhigh, you see, and I was glad, because I thought I'd be able to see over all the roofs, and I thought I'd see the sea and a blue mist and Ireland shinin' out—all green—oh, I want to go home, Nell! I want to go home!" She broke out into pitiful crying, too bad now to fight any longer.
"You shall soon—you shall soon—" Nell's arms were round her; her voice choked.
"I want to go now! S'pose I'm dead before mother and dad come back?—All green—and cool—I'm all scorchin', but I wouldn't be there—Oh, I want to go home! I want just tolookat it!—I'll come back quite quick—I b'lieve I'lldieif I don't go!—Molly O'Rourke died, because she went to America. I'll die, too—I'm allsickinside—" She shook all over with sobs; her voice rose to a wail of utter woe. "Imustsee it—all green—and the colt—oh, he can go—he'll be a fine horse, miss, entirely—look at the legs of him already!—Where's the sugar, then, you bad boy?Heknows!—All dirt and smoke and houses—and houses—and a great big monnyment where people kill theirselves. Nell, where are you?Nell—I b'lieve you're throwin' yourself off the monnyment—"
She quieted down a little; her body shook with deep, silent sobs. She began whispering to herself.
"If I could just see you—just for one minute—just walk 'long on the grass—by the stream—and up the Kilsparran hill—and go and see Biddy—with the turf smokin' in my eyes—and smell it—" Then she broke out crying again.
"I want to go home! I want to go home!"
Nell tried to soothe her. She was trembling herself; but the Atom's little body was torn and shaken with her awful weeping. She clung to Nell, crying out pitifully that she must go home—she must go home.
"I can't bear it any longer—I'm stiflin'—please—just to let mefeelit—I'll come back—so good—oh,please—I must go home! Oh, I want to go home! Where's Denis? I want Denis—"
"I'll go and fetch him, dear. Will you wait?"
She went out on to the landing. He was walking up and down: he turned quickly.
She shut the door quietly, and went to meet him. Her face was quite white; when she spoke, her voice shook.
"She wants you. She—she's crying for home—" Her lips quivered so that she could not go on. "I can't quiet her. She's—oh, I can't stand it, Denis!" She broke into sudden passionate tears.
"Don't cry, old girl. I'll see if I can quiet her."
He went into the room. Sheila Pat was crouched up on her bed, moaning: "I want to go home! I want to go home!"
She lifted her head, and her heavy eyes leapt to his with a wild gleam of hope. She stretched out her arms; she was shaking all over.
"Denis—oh, Denis—I want to go home!"
He put his arms round her.
"Try to be good, Atom—try to be quiet, and go to sleep." His face worked; he bit his lip. "You'll go—some day," he said huskily.
"Let me go now—-I'll be so good—I won't stay a minute—if I can see it—justfeelit—and smell it—oh, Denis—Denis—I want to go home!"
"You shall go, Atom."
There was a sudden breathless lull. She gave a little shiver.
"I—I didn't quite hear—" she whispered hoarsely.
He glanced, his blue eyes desperate, across at Nell, then down at the wild, incredulous little face upturned to his. His eyes cleared, grew deeply tender.
"I said that you shall go." His voice was clear, firm. "Directly your cold has gone I will take you across for a few days if you still want to go."
She dropped suddenly forward against his chest.
"Please hold me." Her faint little whisper told of sudden ineffable peace.
They wrapped her in blankets, and he took her into his arms and walked up and down the room with her. She pulled her arm out of the coverings and stroked his cheek with a gesture almost of adoration.
"I don't think," a sudden passionate whisper came from her, "Godcanbe quite so nice as you!"
Up and down he went.
"Try to go to sleep, Atom."
"Yes, Denis."
Presently she started trembling.
"Denis?"
"Yes, acushla."
"Have—have I been asleep?"
"No."
"—I didn'tdreamthat you—you said—"
"I said that when your cold is better, I will take you home for a few days."
She gave a little wriggle and a snuggle of utter joy.
"I was 'fraid I'd dreamt it."
"Denis,wouldyou mind keep sayin' it every now and then?"
Nell sat by the fire and watched him tramp the room. Once Molly peeped round the door, but was frowned away. Once he tried to lay her down, but she objected with drowsy terror.
"Hold, me, Denis! Say it again!"
Presently.
"Denis, if we took all the poor mad people to Ireland, wouldn't they get better, and not want to kill theirselves any more?—Please just say it again."
"Where's Nell? I want to say good night to her."
Nell came and kissed her softly.
"Poor Nell—may she come, too, Denis?—All green—and cool—I—I can most smell it already—I like lying my cheek on the grass—like—this—it's so—cool—it smells—all—wet—Please—say it—again."
Up and down the room he went, while she slept in his arms. Nell signed to him to put her down, but he glanced down at the small white face in the blankets, and shook his head.
But at last he put her into her bed, and covered her up. For a minute they stood waiting, but Sheila Pat lay still, her breathing soft and regular.
Denis turned to Nell; he put his hand on her shoulder, marched her out of the room, and into the Stronghold.
Molly was there, frightened and sleepy.
"She's all right now. Fast asleep. Go to bed, old girl."
"It's been such a horrid day—is she really better?"
"Yes. I hope she'll be all right to-morrow. Scoot."
Molly went yawning out of the room.
They stood a minute, looking into the fire. Then Nell said:—
"Denis, don't you think—it will make it worse—for her—after?"
He answered without any hesitation:—
"There wasn't any worse then."
She dropped tiredly into a chair.
"No," she said.
He seized the poker, and began hammering at a lump of coal.
"I suppose the money—" she worried.
"Can't be helped! Nell, Icouldn'tdo anything else! I—I couldn't stand it!"
They were silent a little while. Presently he said:—
"I don't believe she'll go. If I know the Atom when she's calm and all right, she'll stick to her guns. If she doesn't—if she still wants to go—I take her. The coming back—having it all over again—will be awful for her, but there was nothing else to do."
"No," she agreed.
CHAPTER XXX
"Good morning, Atom."
Nell bent caressingly over the bed, and laid her hand lightly on a cool little brow.
"Good mornin', Nell."
"You're better, asthore, you're better." There was a gay lilt to her voice that told her relief, her joy, more plainly than her words.
"Yes," the Atom said. "Will I get up now, Nell?"
"Oh, no, dear, you must wait till Dr. Everton has been. Do you ache anywhere now?"
"Only a little."
Nell looked down into the sombre eyes, then turned away.
Sheila Pat lay stiff and still, her small face frowning a little, solemn, mournful.
When Denis came cheerily in, she looked at him quickly, nervously, and her face flushed a little.
"Well, invalidish Atom, you'll soon be up and worrying me again, won't you?"
"Good mornin', Denis."
"Pardon. Good morning. Aren't you going to give me a kiss?"
She turned her face to his languidly. He looked at Nell and raised his eyebrows. Then he sat down on the bed and talked.
Sheila Pat lay very quiet and answered monosyllabically.
"You're very unkind to me, Atom, you know."
She gave him another odd little glance, and her face grew scarlet.
"I—I'm thinkin'," she stammered. "—I'm not unkind—"
"Of course you're not! I was joking. I must be off now. Good-bye."
"Good-bye."
When he had gone, she lifted her head.
"Nell, when is Dr. Everton comin'?"
"Any moment."
"Nell—"
"Yes, dear?"
"I—I wish to speak to him—alone, please."
For a moment Nell looked startled.
"There isn't anything—you don't mean there's some pain you haven't told us of?"
"No. I'm quite well now."
"Very well. You shall, dear."
"Thank you."
Molly tiptoed into the room, knocked a photograph off the mantle shelf, bade the Atom a loudly whispered good morning, stood on one leg, then on the other, and tiptoed out again.
"Nell, isn't Dr. Everton here yet?"
"He will be presently, Atom."
"Will he come straight up to me?"
"Oh, yes."
"Are yousure? Perhaps he's talkin' to Aunt Kezia now?"
"I'll go and see," soothingly.
In a few minutes he came. Miss Kezia came upstairs with him, but at Nell's request she followed her presently from the room, and left the doctor and the Atom alone.
"Dr. Everton!"
"Yes, my dear?"
Pause.
He looked down at her surprised. Sheila Pat was breathing hard; her eyes were wildly eager.
"Something is troubling you," he said gently. "Tell me what it is!"
But she shrank back nervously into the bed.
"You see—I—"
"Well?" He felt the fluttering pulse again. "Tell me, little one."
"Was I—" Pause; then, with a burst, "Was I 'lirious last night?"
"Now, now, you mustn't get nervous—"
Her face stopped him. He rubbed his chin and studied her perplexedly. He was trying to discover what it was that she wanted.
"Was I?" She sat up, clung to the bed knob with one hand. "I—IthoughtI was!"
The expressive voice held a note of despairing doubt in the last words that helped him.
"Well, you were very feverish and," he was feeling his way, "you certainly didn't quite know what you were saying—um! Yes, youweredelirious!" he finished with sudden heartiness. There was no doubting now what it was she wanted. At his words she sank down on to the pillow with a sort of little croon of relief.
"When a person's 'lirious she might say—sayveryfoolish things—she might—askfor things—she'd be 'shamed to if sheknew—"
He was sure of his way now. He pulled his chair closer, and his clever face softened.
"I should think so, indeed. Why, now, there was a young lady I was attending,—she was quite grown-up, too,—and when she is well she's a very sensible sort of girl, but she was delirious, and what do you think she kept crying out for? Why, an elephant—a real, live elephant!"
Sheila Pat laughed.
He took her hand into his.
"Oh, yes, people say and do very queer things when they are delirious. I had a big boy once who wanted a doll, and another who wanted to start for Australia." He paused as he felt the hand in his give a little jerk.
"Do persons—often want to—to go somewhere when they're 'lirious?"
"Very often. It's one of the commonest wants, little one."
Sheila Pat was smiling; she lay looking up at him, her face pale, tired, but very peaceful.
"You're going to be a good little girl, and keep very quiet, and take all your medicine—"
"I—I'm just goin' to be as good as—as snow-drops."
"Why snowdrops?"
She drew her brows together in thought. "I don't know: snowdrops are just good through and through."
He smiled.
"I do think you're such a nice doctor," Sheila Pat said earnestly.
When Nell crept in a few minutes later, she was fast asleep. When she woke, she took her medicine without a murmur.
"Is Denis home, Nell?"
"I think he's just come in. Yes, here he is."
He entered with a beautiful bunch of parma violets.
"With Lancaster's compliments. Aren't you proud, Atom?"
"They are very beautiful," but her eye was absent.
Nell took them and buried her nose in them.
"Denis, Dr. Everton says I was 'lirious last night."
"Poor old Atom."
"And—and he says when a person's 'lirious, they want elephants and Australia and—and to go to places—"
There was a pause.
The Atom turned her face a little away on the pillow.
"I remember—some—I—I didn't know what I was sayin', Denis—I—I wouldn't—have—said—it if—"
"Of course you wouldn't. We know that. But what I said holds good, Atom. If you want me to take you home for a few days, I will!"
There was silence in the room. Sheila Pat had turned her face to the pillow and buried it deep. Nell stood, the violets pressed against her cheek, waiting.
"No—thank you." It came with a little catch between the two first words, but firm, decided.
Denis bent his head suddenly, and whispered in her ear. She turned, stretched up her arms, and held him tight. Tears were running quietly down her face and dropping on to her nightgown, but Nell caught an ecstatically proud note in the whispered query, "Do you—really-truly—think I'm all that?"
When he had gone, she turned to Nell.
"Am I very heavy, Nell?"
Nell felt suddenly what a bit of a baby Sheila Pat was: she stroked her cheek gently.
"You weigh about as much as a good-sized robin. Why?"
"I do feel," wistfully, "I'd like to sit on your lap a little while!"
"Oh, petsums, come along."
She fell asleep almost directly.
That evening, wrapped in blankets, sitting in a large arm-chair, the Atom received three visitors.
Stewart came first. He was very subdued, shy of this white-faced Atom in the blankets.
He sat down and stared at her.
"You're to intertain me," she told him peremptorily.
Stewart, just about to speak, at this awful mandate flushed and collapsed.
Sheila Pat watched him relentlessly.
"Sure you Englisharequeer! Mum! Mum! Mum!"
"Do you feel better?" he burst out.
"You know I do, else I wouldn't be receivin' visitors."
Silence.
"You're not intertainin' me," warned the Atom.
"I don't know how! I've never done it!"
"I think you're a very silly little boy, and you're not intertainin' me at all! You'd better go, I think."
He got as far as the door.
"Tommy, come back!"
He stood and faced her, his thin little body stretched to its utmost limit.
"I'm not alittleboy!"
"Tommy, how's Peter?"
He came back eagerly.
"I say, what d'you think he swallowed yesterday?"
Ted Lancaster came next.
"Mayn't I pull your pig-tail?" he asked gently.
"'Tisn't any manners you English have got at all!" Sheila Pat retorted.
"Ah, that's all right. 'Pon my word, when I came in you looked so good, I was afraid I'd never be allowed to be rude to you again. May I hide that medicine bottle? I do hate medicine bottles. They carry me back to a sick room of my own."
She asked interestedly, "Were you 'lirious?"
"Rather!"
She sat forward, her face alight with eagerness
"Did you want a elephant and to go to Australia?"
"I don't know about the elephant. But I know I wanted to go to Australia, or anywhere else, so long as medicine bottles and beef-tea and thermometers didn't grow there."
She hesitated, her eyes never leaving his face.
"But—but did you—did you say things—"
He smiled.
"Yes, I said things, Sheila Pat!"
"Awful things? Things you'd never,neversay when you were well?"
"I hope I shouldn't!"
A tired little frown creased her forehead.
"Did you—did youaskfor things?"
"Oh, yes, heaps of 'em! I nearly wept because they wouldn't give me my organ into bed with me. And foot-balls—I was always begging for foot-balls. And one night I insisted on its being imperative that I should start off for Paris—"
Eagerly she interrupted, "Did you worry andworry?"
"They had to hold me down."
She lay back in the pillows; she gave a little excited laugh.
"Aren't personsqueerwhen they're 'lirious?"
"Sheila Pat, catch hold!"
He tilted a brown-paper parcel into her lap.
"It's a book about horses, and there're plenty of photographs in it, so will you forgive its not being Irish? And remember that I hate being thanked, Sheila Pat. If you thank me for it, I'll kiss you. So now you know."
She was turning the pages with trembling fingers. He watched the expressive face as she bent over the beautiful photographs.
"Nell," Denis poked his head round the door, "may that conceited Atom receive another visitor? Mr. Yovil wants to see her."
"Yes, with great pleasure!" shrilled out Sheila Pat, excitedly.
She turned to Ted; she lifted up her face.
"I love it! Iloveit!"
"You're thanking me!"
He bent and kissed her.
"I'm jealous," Mark Yovil said sadly, as he entered the room. "He isn't half so nice as I am, Sheila Pat! You ask my mother. She's down in Devonshire, but we could send her a wire. And you've never been his Social Prompter, have you? Please send him away, Sheila Pat!"
"I will, anyway," Nell laughed.
Mark Yovil only stayed a few minutes. He looked at the Atom's excited face, her bright eyes, and talked quietly to Nell. Then he went.
For a quarter of an hour Sheila Pat studied her precious book.
Then Sarah appeared with a petition from Herr Schmidt for just a "beep at the little Miss Sheila."
He came in, laboriously tiptoeing, beaming.
"Ze poor little invalid! You are better, hein?"
Sheila Pat was very tired.
"I'm quite well, thank you," she responded, her manner exceedingly grown-up.
"There's only one thing about her that troubles us, Herr Schmidt," laughed Nell. "She's so good! She takes her medicine without a grimace! She's so meek and good I'm quite uneasy."
Sheila Pat fidgeted restlessly. She explained earnestly. "I'm notreallygood! I'm doin' it for—for a reason of my own."
Herr Schmidt seemed to think that exquisitely funny. He chuckled like a great fat baby.
"Ze funny little child!" he chuckled, "ze very funny little child."
He took off his spectacles, rubbed them with a gigantic handkerchief, and said, "Ach, I forget!" He fumbled in his coat-tail pocket; he dragged forth a limp and very much sat upon brown-paper parcel. He eyed it proudly.
"Ach, zat is why I zink her so nice for a bed! See, I sit on her, but it does not matter!"
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Denis in Nell's ear.
Herr Schmidt handed the parcel to Sheila Pat. He stood watching, beaming at her over his spectacles. Sheila Pat pulled off the paper; she gave a little gasp. There was a tense silence.
The present was a baby doll—a rag baby doll.
Nell quavered desperately, "What a fine colour it has!" And she averted her eyes hastily from the horrible, crimson-dabbed cheeks.
"You like her, little one?" Herr Schmidt's tone was anxious.
"Thank you," said Sheila Pat, in a subdued little voice. She stared fixedly into the fire, her head averted from the Thing in her lap.
"Ach, I zink berhaps she does not like it?" Herr Schmidt whispered loudly to Nell. "And I zink it so sweet!"
"She is tired. She has had too many visitors. It was so awfully kind of you to bring it for her, Herr Schmidt. I want her to go to sleep now."
Sweetly Nell sped his departure. When he had gone, Sheila Pat, still with averted head, dropped her knee till the doll slid to the floor. She looked up at Nell, outraged dignity in every feature.
"Please take the—carrion thing—away!"
And to Kate Kearney she presently whispered:—
"Oh, K.K., he's never forgotten! He thinks I'm a baby! And it's all that petticoat! I knew it!"