“Rosie cannot go,” said poor Mrs Hilchester.
“What! is she bad too?”
“I fear it; I greatly fear it. We cannot send her away until we are sure.”
“Well, anyhow, Ned is all right. Jump into the cab, Ned, and let us be off.”
Chapter Eleven.
A very malignant form of scarlet-fever had showed itself already in the village, and the Rector’s children were some of the first victims. To say that Miss Fleet was shocked when she received Mrs Hilchester’s note would but lightly explain the state of that good woman’s feelings. She was so horrified that she forgot to scold Phyllis for her act, as she termed it, of disobedience; on the contrary, she flew to the little girl and clasped her in her arms, and said in a broken whisper:
“We must pray for your little sick friends. Let us kneel down here at once and pray.”
“Yes,” answered Phyllis in some surprise.