"We can't let her see it, though, until after Uncle has taken a look at it; so I shall lock the door after us, Wilhelmina, when we go out——Mercy on us! What are they up to!" For from the staircase came screams and wails and sounds of falling things which brought every one in the house to the banisters.
Wilhelmina caught Jack at the head of the stairs and bundled him into the playroom, closing the door on him; and then she hurried after Mary, who, picking her way over the books and games scattered on the stairs, was hurrying down to the three in a heap at the foot.
"We's deaded! Oh, we's all deaded; so we is!" wailed Berta as her father lifted her to her feet.
"No, no, pet, it is not so bad as that, I am sure."
Dick managed to pull himself together and sat on the lowest step, winking very hard; but Beth lay so still that Mr. Selwyn was frightened. He lifted her carefully and carried her into the library, feeling the frail little limbs to make sure that no bones were broken. Presently, she opened her eyes and looked at him in a dazed way. He passed his hand over her little yellow head and felt a great lump at the back of it.
Berta was awed at the grave look on his face and whispered, "Is——is little sister——drefful much hurt, Daddy?"
"She certainly got the worst of this tumble, dear. I cannot tell how serious this bump on her head may be."
"Oh, dear, me! Poor Beth is all the time getting the worse of ev'ything, so she is! First her Lucy doll's head, and now her own!" And great tears rolled down Berta's chubby cheeks.
"My——my Lucy doll——did Uncle——make her well?"
"He hasn't come home yet, Bethy; but she is ever so much better, and I am sure she will soon be as well as ever," soothed Mary, who was kneeling beside her father.