crimination and judgment,' murmured Miss Terry, who had become very pale, and was supporting herself by leaning on the back of a chair. Mrs. Toogood had not perceived the change in her companion until this moment. As soon as she did so, she said—

'Are you ill, Miss Terry? Pray, take a seat; let me offer you a glass of wine.'

Miss Terry's murmurs were now almost inarticulate. She took the chair, and after one or two unsuccessful efforts to control herself, she burst into a flood of tears. Mrs. Toogood looked alarmed at this most unusual display of emotion, and, hardly knowing what to do, procured a glass of wine, which she held towards the agitated lady.

Miss Terry's sobs became less uncontrolled, until gradually she subsided into greater calmness, only occasionally shuddering, and wiping her eyes with her pocket handkerchief rolled up into a hard ball.

'My dear Miss Terry, may I request to be informed what has so agitated you?' asked Mrs. Toogood, when she found she could safely put a question without bringing on a return of the storm.

'Forgive me my foolish exhibition of feeling, my dear ma'am,' said Miss Terry.

'Was

'I cannot account for it,' said Mrs. Toogood. there anything in what I said which may have caused it?' 'This fearful visitation!' said Miss Terry, shuddering afresh; this terrible malady!'

Mrs. Toogood was herself accustomed to pick her words; but it annoyed her when Miss Terry trenched.

Miss Terry's Fears.

229

upon her ground. 'Do you mean the scarlatina?' asked she sharply.

ness.

'Oh yes! oh yes!' said Miss Terry, beginning to relapse. 'And do you mean to say you are afraid of it, Miss Terry?' asked Mrs. Toogood again, this time with sternWhatever faults Mrs. Toogood may have had, she would never have been afraid where her duty was involved; and there was a rising feeling of contempt in her bosom for cowardly Miss Terry. Miss Terry shook her head slowly and sadly, and fetched sobbing sighs at intervals.

'I wish you would say what you do mean,' observed Mrs. Toogood, forgetting all her politeness of expression. 'I confess I cannot understand you. Are you afraid of the scarlatina ?'

'I have never had it; it is an awful complaint,' said poor Miss Terry.

'Then you had best go home,' observed Mrs. Toogood shortly. 'I have never had it either; but these things are in the hands of God. You had best go home at once, Miss Terry.'

Thus dismissed, Miss Terry thought it best to say nothing more; so she left the drawing-room without even a parting purr; and Mrs. Toogood took from her drawer her daily remembrancer, in order to consult its pages.

Just one fortnight from the date on which she was looking, there was written in the pocketbook: 'Young ladies walked on Greenway Common under charge of Miss Astley; Elizabeth's brother died of the fever; put the establishment under quarantine.' Mrs. Toogood

rang the bell and sent for Theodora; then immediately afterwards she changed her mind, and went to the schoolroom. The girls were all crowded together in groups, for of course there were no lessons that day. Some were busy putting together a few of their things; these were the fortunate individuals who were to return home at once. For Florence Leigh, Isabel Howard, and some others, whose parents were abroad, there was no such possibility. Sarah Hawkhurst was talking vehemently as Mrs. Toogood entered; but she ceased upon seeing who it was who had joined them.

'My dear young ladies,' commenced Mrs. Toogood, 'this is a most unfortunate occurrence, as it breaks up our circle in the middle of the term, and puts a stop, for the time being, to our studies.'

The girls did not seem to look at it exactly in this light; but they tried to look decently concerned. ‘Let us hope,' resumed Mrs. Toogood, 'that poor little Bertha Lloyd will be the only one who will be visited with the fever; meanwhile, we must not alarm ourselves unnecessarily. I should wish to know who amongst you here have had scarlet fever already.'

'I have,' said Florence Leigh; but she was the only one amongst those who were to remain at Prospect House who so answered.

And in the next place,' said Mrs. Toogood, 'can any of you form an idea of how the infection made its way into this house? I regret having to ask the question. Did you come in contact with any one from Upton, on

the day you walked out to Greenway Common? That was the last occasion on which the young ladies of my establishment took walking exercise away from home.'

She was looking to Isabel Howard as she commenced speaking; but before concluding her speech her eyes wandered towards Theodora, whose changeable complexion, under her scrutiny, turned the brightest crimson. Isabel Howard also saw the blush, as any one might have done, and she frowned and bit her under-lip at Theodora, at which sign the colour of the latter grew deeper still.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The cunning of Isabel-She is taken ill-Her agony in the prospect of the fever-Mrs. Toogood gives Theodora warning.

M

ISS ASTLEY,' said Mrs. Toogood in a severe voice, I trust that you did not disobey my orders, and subject the young ladies to

this danger?'

Theodora gave no answer; she positively did not know what to say. She knew her first statement would in all probability bring down upon her a storm of contradiction and denial from the others.

'Your silence is as reprehensible as a denial, Miss Astley,' said Mrs. Toogood. Then turning to Isabel,

she said, I appeal to you, Miss Howard.'

'Oh, pray do not appeal to me, ma'am,' said Isabel flippantly. I hate getting other people into hot water. Besides, you know, ma'am, that Miss Astley did not know there was any sickness in the town.'

'Oh, Isabel, how can you be so mean?' exclaimed Theodora.

'Why, have I let out anything?' asked Isabel with