"Yes, yes—go now, please. And keep Harriet away, for her own sake, and yours."
Sidney promised that, and then shook hands with her.
"You must not be very shocked at my stalking in here—fancy it is your brother, Mattie. I shall make Harriet a clean confession when I get back—not to-night, though."
He went from the room, followed by Ann Packet. Outside, the cheerful look upon his face suddenly vanished, and he became so grave that Ann Packet stared aghast at him.
"Who's her doctor?"
Ann told him.
"I'll send some one myself to see if he's treating her correctly."
"Don't you—don't you think that she's so well?"
"I think that she's very ill—worse than she is aware of herself. Take care of her, Ann, she's an old friend!"
He went down-stairs hastily, and Ann returned to the room to find Mattie in a high fever, sitting up in bed with a wild look in her eyes.