MORE TROUBLE. 49

went to her own bed-room to kneel down by
a chair and do as her father had told her.

She did not stay there long, but when she
came out again, a little colour had returned to
her lips, and the shivering fit was over. She
had left off thinking about herself, and was
wondering what she could do to be most useful.

“The first thing, I must see how mother
seems,” she said to herself, and went into the
room adjoining that where Harry was. There
was Mrs. Maine, lying on the bed.

At first Nellie thought she was asleep, but
as she went nearer, her mother opened her
eyes and looked strangely at her. Then she
murmured something that seemed to have no
meaning. The little girl shrank away for a
second, frightened, but directly after she laid
her small cool hands on the sick woman's
burning forehead.

The touch seemed to be refreshing, for Mrs.
Maine’s eyes soon closed and she fell asleep.

_Meanwhile the farmer, full of anxiety and
misgiving, sat watching the little figure of his
youngest child, hoping to see some sign of life.
He scarcely knew what to do, or where to turn,

for his wife’s state alone was enough to make
(286) D