Mrs. Parsons opened the door and let the little girl come in.
"Up! up!" she cried, stretching out her arms towards her young nurse; and her mother lifted her on to the bed and let her lie for a minute or two beside her, the little one stroking her cheek and murmuring, "Poor Lila! Poor Lila ill!" And in a very few minutes Eliza was asleep.
Mrs. Parsons arranged to take the children to the beach while Nurse watched beside Eliza and got what rest she could, for she had slept very little all night. Eliza slept, and Nurse too, until the doctor came in again, when he set their fears at rest by saying that a day or two in bed was all that was necessary for Eliza's recovery.
The girl slept nearly the whole of that day and the greater part of the next, only rousing up have a meal of light food that would help her to go to sleep again.
The third day, however, the girl was more wakeful, and wanted to get up, and the doctor allowed her to do so for a short time in the evening.
"You will come out with us, won't you, Man Friday?" said Eustace, when Eliza went into the sitting-room to tea.
But Eliza shook her head. "Not to-day, dear," she said, with a smile, for she had never felt so weak before, and knew she would not be able to walk to the beach, even if she wished to do so.
"Now, Eustace, you must be very kind and quiet for Eliza's sake, or else she will be ill again," said his mother; and the little fellow looked tenderly up at his young nurse as she sat in the easy-chair that Nurse usually occupied.
The Vicar went back to his father's house as soon as Eliza was declared to be out of all danger, for the old gentleman was still very ill. But Mrs. Parsons did not leave until Eliza was quite well.
Before she left she heard from the Vicar that their stay at the seaside would have to be extended, for he had heard that scarlet fever had broken out at the other end of the town, and what was worse for them individually, the Vicarage drains had been discovered to be out of order, and they would have to be thoroughly repaired before the children could return home.