"Yes, Tom, I am," Mr. Burford replied. "Don't alarm yourself," he continued hastily, for Tom had suddenly become quite white. "I don't think she's actually ill, but you know that illness of hers pulled her down dreadfully, and—well, she's a frail little thing, and she doesn't pick up strength so quickly as we hoped she would."
"I know what Dr. Brewer will say when he sees her," Tom said in a troubled tone; "he'll say, as he did before, that she ought to go to the seaside for a change."
Mr. Burford nodded. "Yes, I quite expect that will be it," he agreed. "If he does, we must manage to send her," he added, to Tom's surprise.
"But, Father, how can it be managed?" the little boy questioned. "I thought you couldn't spare the money. Mother told me you couldn't."
"I can't spare the money for a holiday for us all this year, and if I could, that would only mean a fortnight's change; but I've been hearing of a school—a sort of nursing home it is really— at Broadstairs, where for a small sum a week, delicate children are medically treated, taught, and well cared for. If I don't manage to send Nellie there for a few months—say, till Christmas—"
"What, by herself?" broke in Tom, utterly aghast at this idea. "Oh, I'm sure she wouldn't like that!"
"Of course, some one—her mother, most probably—would take her to Broadstairs," Mr. Burford explained. "I was not suggesting that she should make such a long journey alone."
"But she would be alone with strangers afterwards! In a strange place, too! Oh, how can you bear to think of it, Father? I'm sure Mother won't let her go. You don't think she will, do you?"
"Yes, certainly, if it is best for our little girl. It may be a matter of life or death whether Nellie goes to Broadstairs or not. Yes, Tom, indeed it may. The air there is very good, I am told, and Dr. Brewer believes it would be the best medicine Nellie could possibly have. Of course, we shall miss the child dreadfully, but we must put all personal feelings aside for her sake. I know her mother will, and so must you and I, Tom."
Tom liked to be linked with his father in that way, and his face, which had been overcast with dismay, suddenly brightened.