She became so white, and looked so troubled, that the doctor tried to comfort her.
"Whatever she may have said or done," he explained excusingly, "she did in utter ignorance, of course, of any ill result being likely to follow, and she cannot be blamed entirely for the disaster.

Mrs.Pike has been seriously unwell for some time; in fact, I had ventured to speak to her about her health, and warned her, but she resented my advice.

Believe me, that what has happened would have happened in any case; any little upset would have brought it about; but Betty may have precipitated matters." Kitty listened with wide, grave eyes; her heart was heavy and anxious, her mind full of awe and care.

How terribly serious life had become all at once; how real and possible every dreadful thing seemed, when so many came into one's life like this.
As she left the doctor, walking away with heavy, tired steps, he looked after her, half pitying, half admiring.
"She has had some hard knocks to-day, poor child," he said to himself, "but she has plenty of sense and plenty of pluck.

At any rate I hope so, for she will need both, I fancy, in the time that lies before her." Kitty, making her way slowly up the stairs to Betty's room and her own, was again impressed with that curious sensation of being some one else, of seeing everything for the first time.