"Mrs.Lorimer has been taken ill." She passed him at once with the words, not looking at him, for she could not trust herself.

Straight to Gracie, huddled on the floor in her night-dress, she went, and lifted the child bodily to her bed.
Gracie clung to her, sobbing passionately.

Mr.Lorimer lingered in the doorway.
"Will you go, please ?" said Avery, tight-lipped and rigid, the child clasped to her throbbing heart.
It was a definite command, spoken in a tone that almost compelled compliance, and Mr.Lorimer lingered no more.
Then for one long minute Avery sat and rocked the poor little tortured body in her arms.
At length, through Gracie's sobs, she spoke.

"Gracie darling, I'm going to ask you to do something big for me." "Yes ?" sobbed Gracie, clinging tightly round her neck.
"Leave off crying!" Avery said.

"Please leave off crying, darling, and be your own brave self!" "I can't," cried Gracie.
"But do try, darling!" Avery urged her softly.