, was considered rather a good sign than otherwise, for had the spine been much injured the little girl would have been numbed and stupid. Dr. Bentinck

the spine, there was a great deal of present distress and discomfort to be got through. The little girl must lie perfectly stil

bedroom at the Towers, had undergone, the great London doctor's news seemed all that was delightful. Hester hurried to the

f and to reveal the real Nora, who was frightened and weak and silly, and yet who had somewhere beneath her frivolous exterior a real little heart of gold. If there wa

tell me," she sa

imer bent

he said. "What do

ng to die

quite a cheerful opinion of you. He says there is no very ser

eyes br

. "I didn't want to die. I

ccident," said Mrs. Lorrimer; "but now you must lie still, lov

rs. Lorrimer sat down in an

ane should return to the Towers and send Molly to look after Nora. A good surgical nurse had ar

orning room, where Hester and

so Annie jumped u

Nora?" s

d self to-day. She cannot, of course, move without the greatest

see her, may I n

very quiet. It would not do

as a soothing influence over sick people which is quite marvellous. Di

nd reddening. "Well, granted that I possess a sor

s. Lorrimer, smiling affectio

, singing a

tudy. The room was now turned into a comfortable bedroom, but was also in part a sitting-room. A l

t blooms, any quantity of unopened buds, were cut by her reckless fingers. She gathered a whole quantity of maidenhair to mix with the roses, and then,

ons in the old schoolroom, even that hateful darning and mending to which she had to devote a portion of her time each day, seemed delightful in contrast to her

because I've come into the room. I feel that in a certain fashion I am to blame for your accident, so I am going to take your amusements upon my s

not a

won't mind my talking. Are

very

e, but you need not say so. I wonder where there's a looking-glass. Oh, yes, in that corner, decently covered with an

e glass; Nora could w

an't think what a mass of roses there are in the green-house this morning. Of course the garden is full, too, but I did not wait to go to the garden to get these for you. You can watch me just as long as you fancy and then shut your eyes. These half-open buds are to be placed on a table close to you, wher

ied Nora. "I'm afrai

d her eyes

he said presently, "an

hen I am with you, would it?" asked Anni

y pretty. What

with pink embroidery. Would

do you

brightened

sequence I have got some pretty things, although they cost next to nothing. Now, I think you and I are something alike. We are both dark, and we have both got bright colour. Oh, I don't mean that you have a bright colour just now, you poor little d

e very good, very good; but I haven't got

are always contriving, and that's so interesting. We'll make the

protest, and the vision of her pretty little self in alternate d

he made a pretty, a beautiful, picture, and the discontented l

ited and in high spirit

en times deeper, she had not Annie's marvellous tact, and soon contrived to tire poor Nora dreadfully. The

" she said; "but Nora does n

said Hester; "wh

." She did not raise her eyes, but bent her curly head still lower over the fascinating pages. Nan had

wn into a cha

and I have suffered so terribly about her. I cannot tell you the relief and joy of be

, of course, Nora will like to have you by-and-by, but sh

you, Annie, spent some

her feet, and "Geoffrey Hamlyn"

, "and I don't think I tired her; but, th

olly; "I should think so,

ing for a sick person. Well, you see, I d

't her sister

e I amuse her without exciting her. All I did to-day was to sit in the room where s

n fervent and passionate prayers for her recovery? Did not Nora love Molly, and did not Molly love Nora as only

ding her, and for the first time in all her gentle life

moment later, and He

t understand An

ivolous girl she must be. Fancy her tal

e was quite jolly this afternoon, and that An

ster," said Molly; "it ma

ied Hester, "that A

nk so; but for her Nora wo

d her for a long time. Indeed, Molly, I don't mind telling you that once I hated her

d in non-co