“What selfish egotists we are over our picayune vexations!” Graydon muttered.

“Well, the mother and the doctor now appeared.  The latter looked grave; and when he looks grave things are serious indeed.

“‘Ain’t she no better?’ the father asked, with entreaty in his tone.

“‘I wish she was,’ said the doctor, in his blunt way, which nevertheless expressed more sympathy than a lot of fine phrases.  Then he said to the mother:  ’You’re all worn out, and yet she’ll need close watching to-night.  Isn’t there some neighbor—­’

“‘Oh, please let me stay!’ began Madge, in a low, eager tone, speaking for the first time.  ’I’m strong, and I’ll follow your directions in everything.  Do, please.  I’ve been ill myself, and think I know how to nurse.’

“The woman hesitated, and looked doubtfully, wonderingly, at the doctor.  Madge sprang up, and taking the mother’s hand, continued:  ’Indeed, madam, you do look worn out; you will be ill yourself.  For your daughter’s sake, as well as mine, let me stay.’

“‘For your sake, miss?’

“’Yes, for my sake.  Why should I not bear a little of this heavy burden?  It will do me good.  Doctor, say I can stay.  My strength should not be wasted in amusement only.’

“‘Well,’ he replied, ’if Mrs. Muir consents, there’s no one I’d trust sooner.’

“‘Then it’s settled, Mary,’ she said, in her decisive way.  ’It’s perfectly proper for me to stay under the protection of these good people.’

“‘But you haven’t had your supper,’ I began.

“A little color came into the woman’s face at my foolish speech, and she said, ‘If the young lady will take what we can offer—­’

“‘Of course I will,’ interrupted Madge, with a smile that would have propitiated a dragon; ‘a little bread and milk would suit me best.’

“’She shall have a chicken broiled as nice as she ever tasted at the hotel,’ said the man, impulsively.  ’Heaven bless your kind heart, and perhaps you can coax Tilly to take a bit!’

“‘The young lady’s name is Miss Alden,’ said the doctor, ’and this is Mrs. Muir, Mr. and Mrs. Wendall, ladies; I should have introduced you before, but my mind was on my patient.  Well, well, well, what a world it is!  Some very good streaks run through it, though.’

“‘I’ll come for you in the morning,’ I said to Madge, who had thrown off her hat, looking so resolute and absorbed in her purpose that I knew there was nothing more to be said.  So I shook hands with the poor people, and came away with the doctor.”

“I’m going for Madge in the morning,” said Graydon, decisively.

“I thought you were going trouting with the doctor.”

“Not till I’ve told Madge what I think of her,” he said, gravely.

“I’m sure her impulse and motives were good.”

“They were more than good—­they were divine, and just like Madge Alden as she now is.  She keeps one’s blood tingling with surprises; but I’ve not become such a cynic that I do not understand her.  When you come to think of it, what is more natural than that one girl with her superb health should lend her strength to another who, perhaps, is dying; but you may well ask, Who in the house would think of doing this?”