Mrs. Bellairs shuddered. "What an awful risk!"
"My dear, they are always running risks. I am sure among the seven there is always one in danger."
"Well?"
"Well, Charlie ran to the study to his papa, and when Mr. Bayne went out, there was Nina, who had been partly stunned by her fall, beginning to float away with the current. Fortunately she had fallen in so near the edge that the water was very shallow, and if she had been in possession of her senses, she might have dragged herself out I dare say; but, you know, the current is very strong, and her papa had to get into the river a little lower down and catch her as she was passing."
"And she was insensible?"
"Not quite when they brought her in, but then unluckily her wetting brought on ague again, and she was shivering all night."
"Poor Nina!" and Mrs. Bellairs turned to the miserable pale child, who looked as if another shivering fit were coming on. "You must make haste and get better, and come and stay with Flo for a while. We never have ague."
"You are fortunate," sighed Mrs. Bayne. "I wish that wretched swamp could be done something to."
"So do I, with all my heart. I must tease William into giving the people no rest until they do it."
"You will be doing us and our poor neighbours at the shanties no small service. Ague is dreadfully bad there just now."