"Most inconsiderate." "Ah, I can't get over it that it isn't your legs, poor dear!" murmured Miss Delano, still plaintively overcome.

"And you will walk, after all ?" "Dr.Dennis is an excellent physician," said Mrs.Dexter, somewhat defiantly.

It was impossible not to enter the lists against Mrs.Upjohn.
This last lady was immediately up in arms, and a heated discussion as to the respective skill of the two practitioners took place, everybody gradually taking sides with one or the other of the leaders, and forgetting both poor exhausted Phebe and the noise downstairs, which finally culminated in a rousing lullaby led by Bell, and lustily seconded by half a dozen others: "Slumber on, Phebe dear; Do not hear us fellows sigh!" The song, however, suddenly stopped in the midst.

Some one seemed speaking very low and softly, and neither the chorus nor the laughter nor the tumult was resumed.

Phebe drew a deep breath.