WATCHING. 61

“What do you mean, child?”

One minute of doubt, and then out came
the whole story, beginning with last October.
It was a full and complete confession that she
made. Every little thing she could remember,
that had come to her mind while sitting by
Harry during the night, she told, and then
sank down in a dejected heap on the floor and
dared not look up.

“Tt is a terrible thing to think,” Miss Rayner
said after a pause, “that this would never have
happened if you had been honest and sincere.”

At that moment the doctor's voice called
gently, “Alice.” Miss Rayner ran to answer.

“It is to tell her he is dead,” she thought.
“And it is my fault. Oh, what shall I do?”

She crouched lower and lower on the floor,
and then as though the thoughts were really
too dreadful to bear, they all faded from her
mind, and she sank back unconscious.

When she came to herself she was still lying
on the floor, and Miss Rayner was rubbing her
hands, and splashing cold water on her temples.

“What is the matter?” she asked, sitting up.
“T feel so funny. Oh, where’s mother?”

“Drink some water. There! now you are