"Tricycle?" echoed Barbara.
"Yes; we didn't mean to get into any harm. But we saw a jolly one, and we hired it for an hour, and then we ran into a bank, and Evan hurt his head and his foot; and we thought it wasn't much, and we hoped—"
He laid his head down beside her and cried bitterly.
"Do you think he will die?" he sobbed.
"I don't know; but, oh! Do ask God to forgive you for being so deceitful, and then we'll go down and tell Lucia. How can we ask for him to be made well while you haven't told the dear Lord Jesus that you are sorry?"
Ivor threw his arms round her neck.
"I am, Barbara, I am sorry! Oh, do tell God how sorry I am! I'll tell Him too!"
So with broken little words the boy asked forgiveness for their deception, and then he passively let Barbara lead him down to where Lucia sat in the dark, counting the minutes till the doctor should come down to tell her—what?
But when the doctor came down, he had nothing very decisive to say. He reported that Evan was sleeping more naturally, that nurse was with him, and that he would call again in an hour or two, but that the house must be kept perfectly quiet.
Lucia had already taken Ivor back to his room, and now told the doctor of the fall from the tricycle.