"She doesn't know, but she says Miss Hadlow won't take proper nourishment unless she's there to make her; and it is essential that while the influenza runs its course, she should take sufficient nourishment to keep up her strength. Denis, you're not to laugh!"
"How long does it take running its course?" asked Molly.
"I don't know. A week—"
"Oh, more than that," said Denis, cheerfully.
"Poor Miss Hadlow!" said Molly, dutifully.
They all began to laugh and laugh.
"Aren't we h-h-horrid?" gasped Nell.
"I don't see why," argued the Atom; "if she were really ill, we'd be sorry—I suppose."
Denis shouted with laughter at her tone.
"She isn't ill, you see," pursued Sheila Pat. "She's just like a baby and won't take this and won't take that! So I don't see why we should be sorry yet awhile—we will be when she gets worse, perhaps."