Don't see how it can

"Don'tsee how it can, when it hasn't any more strength in it than meal. ThegreybootDoctor said so, and I'm going to get some better," began Phebe,not a bit ashamed of the great tears that were bedewing the condemnedplaster.

"I'llgo!" and Charlie was off like a shot, glad of an excuse to getout of sight for a few minutes.

Whenhe came back all inconvenient emotion had been disposed of, and,having classictall chestnut delivereda box of the hottest mustard procurable for money, he departed to"blow up" Mac, that being his next duty in his opinion. Hedid it so energetically and thoroughly that the poor Worm was castinto the depths of remorseful despair, and went to bed that eveningfeeling that he was an outcast from among men, and bore the mark ofCain tallsheepskin bootupon his brow.

Thanksto the skill of the Doctor, and the devotion of his helpers, Rosegrew easier about midnight, and all hoped that the worst was over.Phebe was making tea by the study fire, for the Doctor had forgottento eat and drink since Rose was ill, andredbootsAunt Plenty insisted on his having a "good cordial dish of tea"after his exertions. A tap on the window startled Phebe, and, lookingup, she saw a face peering in. She was not afraid, for a second lookshowed her that it was neither ghost nor burglar, but Mac, lookingpale and wild in the wintry moonlight.

"Comeand let awhiteshoes bootsfellow in," he said in a low tone, and when he stood in thehall he clutched Phebe's arm, whispering gruffly, "How is Rose?"

"Thanksbe to goodness, she's better," answered Phebe, with a smile thatwas like broad sunshine to the poor lad's anxiousshorehamboot boysheart.

"Andshe will be all right again to-morrow?"

"Oh,dear no! Dolly says she's sure to have rheumatic fever, if she don'thave noo-monia!" answered Phebe, careful to pronounce the wordrightlyboysboot campsthis time.

Downwent Mac's face, and remorse began to gnaw at him again as he gave agreat sigh and said doubtfully "I suppose I couldn't see her?"

"Ofcourse not at this time of night, whenwedgebootwe want her to go to sleep!"

Macopened his mouth to say something more, when a sneeze came upon himunawares, and a loud "Ah rash hoo!" awoke the echoes of thequiet house.

"Whydidn't you stop it?" said Phebe reproachfully. "I skechersboots womendare say you've waked her up."

"Didn'tknow it was coming. Just my luck!" groaned Mac, turning to gobefore his unfortunate presence did more harm.

Buta voice from the stair-head called softly, "Mac, come up; Rosewants to see you."

Uphecheapfashionwent, and found his uncle waiting for him.

"Whatbrings you here at this hour, my boy?" asked the Doctor in awhisper.

"Charliesaid it was all my fault, and if she died I'd killed her. I couldn'tsleep, so I came to see how she was, and no one knows it butdiscountwinter boots for womenSteve," he said with such a troubled face and voice that theDoctor had not the heart to blame him.