"Humph!" grunted the medical practitioner. "That's what I thought. Effect of the Rhus Toxicodendron. Bad case."
This sounded very terrible to Ruth until she suddenly remembered something she had read in her botany. A great feeling of relief came over her.
"Oh! poison-ash!" she cried.
"Good land! Nothin' but poison ivy?" demanded Mrs. Sadoc Smith.
"Poison oak, or poison sumac—whatever you have a mind to call it. But a bad case of it, I assure you. I'll leave more of the cooling draught; and I'll send up a salve to put on her face and hands. Don't let it get into the poor child's eyes—and don't let her tear off the mask which she will have to wear."
"Then there is no danger of scarlet fever," whispered Ruth, feeling relieved.
CHAPTER XXIII
PUTTING ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD
Amy Gregg's escapade created a lot of excitement at Briarwood Hall. Inasmuch as it affected Ruth, the whole school was in a flutter about it.