Susie fairly tumbled into them.

“O mother,” she kept repeating, as if nothing more would come.

“Susie!” said mother.

“Oh, I have been awake all night!” Susie panted out the words.  “If he had died it would have been my fault.  Mother, is he getting well?”

“My darling Susie,” said mother, “I had not time to come to you.  I never dreamt you were awake.  Dick is much better; but he has been very bad, and he must go to sleep.”

“Mother, let me tell you!  I am so wicked. I felt sure they would not be really naughty; I_ felt certain—­”

“Susie,” said mother faintly, “I must go to sleep too.  Some other time we will talk it over, but not now.”

“But I can’t sleep,” said Susie, “unless I tell you first.”

“Come, Susie, try.  I am sure it would be a great comfort to make excuses; but, just for once, choose the harder part, and say nothing.  You and I, Susie, must get our beauty-sleep.”

She stroked the flaxen pigtail and gently unloosed Susie’s clinging hands.

“Come, let me tuck you in,” she said.

“Nurse is going to stay with Dick.  Susie, I am very, very tired.”

Susie’s sobs ceased suddenly, and she stood up straight.  It was the hardest battle she had ever fought, but she was never one for half measures.  In perfect silence she allowed her mother to lead her away and tuck her comfortably into the little bed, where Amy patiently waited for her, and then, still silently, she put her two arms round her mother and hugged her.

“Oh, thank you, Susie,” mother said gratefully.

CHAPTER V.

Dick took many days to get well, and all the time his crib remained in the corner of his mother’s room.  The red pail and spade were tidied away, and his knickerbocker suit was put out of sight; and in the afternoon, when the house was empty, and nurse, and Susie, and Amy, and Tom, and baby were all out on the sands, his mother used to read delightful stories to him, whilst he lay and watched her with round, wondering eyes.  His cough was troublesome at night, but however often he twisted, and turned, and choked, there was the familiar face bending over him, her arm beneath his head.

Dick was a very kind little boy, and he tried always to cough under the bed-clothes, so as not to wake her, but it was no use.  However carefully he coughed, her eyes always opened at once.

“I am taking away your peace-time,” he said, over and over again.  And she always answered, “Never mind, darling; I could not sleep if you wanted me.”

“You look so funny,” he said once.

“Perhaps I am tired, Dickie.”

But she smiled as she spoke, and he felt relieved.  It was when she was too tired to smile that her face was strange.

And Susie’s behaviour was quite angelic.  She was happy and busy, and brimful of good resolutions.  She gave up many and many a morning on the sands to play with Dick, and to let her mother go out to walk or shop.  Her astonishing meekness was a constant surprise to Tom, and he was relieved by occasional flashes of temper, which showed him that the old Susie was only sleeping, not dead!