THE CONSEQUENCES. 31

And then seeing how tear-stained Harry’s
bright face was, she bathed it for him, brushed
his hair, and put him on a clean collar, so that
he looked quite himself again.

A few minutes after they went down hand
in hand to tea.

Their father was rather silent and thought-
ful during the meal, and Mrs. Maine looked
very grave. Nellie wondered what it all meant,
until Mrs. Maine told her and Harry a piece
of news that made them both feel very guilty.
He had been down to the village to thank
Miss Rayner for her brave conduct, for he
knew that it was to her he owed his little
son’s life. But he had not seen her. She was
in bed dangerously ill with rheumatic fever.

Tears came again into Harry’s eyes. He felt
quite crushed by his own wickedness.

On the Sunday following and for many
weeks after Miss Rayner was absent from
school and church. The two children called
often to ask how she was, always to be told,
‘A little better.” The first primroses came out
before they saw her again, and they spent all
one half-holiday in hunting for enough of these
early blossoms to make a bunch worth taking