"She can't be dead, Dora! Was she very frightened?"
"I don't know, yes, I suppose so. She never said anything, but just dropped down on the floor; and when I told her it was only George she never spoke a word. She looks dreadful, her face is as white as a sheet, and her eyes are wide-open, and staring dreadfully."
"You had better call Miss Clarke, Dora—she's in her bedroom; and I'll see if father is in the surgery, but I'm almost sure he's out."
As David thought, Dr. Knight was away, but Mr. Gray happened to come in at that moment, and the boy rushed to him excitedly, and clutched him by the arm.
"Oh, Mr. Gray, do come! We're afraid Stella's dead!"
The assistant gave one look at the boy's face, and then silently followed him upstairs. Miss Clarke had come upon the scene, and had carried Stella into her room, and laid her on her bed. The governess was bathing the poor child's face and hands with cold water, whilst the children stood around crying, excepting George, who seemed perfectly dazed at the result of his joke.
"What has happened?" Mr. Gray asked as he bent over Stella, and looked into her wide-open, horror-stricken eyes. Miss Clarke briefly explained, and the assistant listened in silence. Then he turned the children out of the room, bidding them go into the school-room and wait there. They obeyed silently, whilst Anna, who had come from her mistress's room to find out the meaning of the commotion, went back to try and reassure Mrs. Knight by telling her that Master George had been dressing up for fun, and had frightened Miss Stella. Poor Mrs. Knight, feeling nervous and alarmed, lay back on her pillows to wait as patiently as she could for further news; whilst down in the school-room the children, with the exception of George, who kept in a dark corner, clustered around the fire weeping bitterly.
"I know she is dead!" Dora sobbed. "Oh, George, how could you do it! Poor, poor Stella!"
"Poor, poor Stella!" echoed Nellie, whilst David looked at his brother reproachfully. But George remained silent, uttering no word, the fact being that he was too shocked and frightened to speak.
Presently the children heard their father come in, and his voice inquiring where they all were. Some one answered, and he went straight upstairs. They listened breathlessly, but half-an-hour passed —an hour—and still no one came to them. At length, when their anxiety was becoming actual agony, the door opened, and Dr. Knight entered. Never had they seen him look so angry before. It was Nellie who ran to him, and asked the question the others were afraid to put.