“Humph! You don’t know what real trouble is. To be smashed up in a railroad accident or run over by a trolley or bitten by a mad dog, such things might make your hair turn white. There now, don’t let me hear another word out of you.”
She settled Louie on her bed and covered her over with a shawl, listening every few moments. The sighing breath became more regular, there were two or three gentle snores. Phillipa rose presently, went cautiously to the door and placed the key on the outside, then locked it softly. Louie might sleep half an hour.
Just as she turned Zay ran into her arms. “Oh Phil—we’ve just had word. The steamer will be in this evening. Aunt Kate has sent over and I am to be dismissed. We go to New York tomorrow morning. Oh, it seems too blessed to be true, but mother hasn’t lost any ground. What a lovely Christmas we shall have!”
“And I’m glad enough for your sake, Zay. I’ve teased you about looking like that Boyd girl, and I dragged you off into danger, but if anything should happen to you I never could forgive myself.”
“I don’t believe we were in any great danger. I hunted up father’s big medico-something and read about scarlet fever. You don’t take it very easily, but oh, wasn’t it dreadful for the poor woman! Only I think she oughtn’t have let us in. The town authorities are going to send them away as soon as they can. Oh, good-by—but I’ll see you when we come back.”
“I’ll keep tab on Louie. We must just hold together. It won’t do for the thing to leak out. I was a ninny to propose such a thing.” They kissed each other and walked down stairs together. Most of the girls were in the school room discussing the newspaper account. The town was clean and in excellent shape, there were no fears of an epidemic and even now Dr. Lewis was not quite sure but it’s origin was measles, since the little girl had a decided case. The strictest watch would be kept. The clothes and some rubbish had been burned. The clairvoyant’s knowledge of the future was held up to withering ridicule.
Louie Howe had a long, refreshing nap and woke up in much better heart. The short day ended by a little gymnasium practice but all the girls were rather nervous over the affair.
“Why, I had the scarlet fever once,” announced Miss Nevins, “and mamma would have three doctors!”
“And you lived through all that?” laughed some one. “Then scarlet fever can’t be dangerous.”
“I don’t remember being very sick, and then father sent us to Bermuda. It was when the lilies were in bloom. It’s such a lovely place!”