"It's torn, Cousin Helen," answered Billie meekly.
"But why, pray, didn't you take Nancy's?"
Billie considered a moment what she should say and ended by saying nothing at all.
"Why didn't you borrow Nancy's, Billie?" asked Elinor.
"Nancy didn't seem willing to lend it," answered Billie at last, slowly.
There was a strained silence. Then Miss Campbell remarked:
"I believe the child must be seriously ill. It sounds like typhoid fever.
I think we'd better send for the doctor as soon as we reach home."
However, this was not necessary. There was Nancy waiting for them on the piazza. Her headache had gone, she said, and she looked quite well and much more cheerful than usual. She did not notice the faintest tinge of coldness in their greetings. Even Mr. Campbell was not so cordial as usual.
"You must have been caught in the worst of the rain," she said, looking at Billie's dripping clothes.
"We were," put in Mary quickly, trying to cover the silence of the others.