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"Trustin his tone "She can't be more precious to you than she is to lided away down the dusky, scented avenue beneath the tall trees which had not, as yet, put off their suold

Soh the cool, perfuht Both, indeed, felt a sense of shyness in each other's co like relief that they realized they were at Cherry Orchard in less tienerally allowed for the little journey

The hall door, as usual, stood hospitably open; but there was no sign of Chloe, waiting for theracious welcome; and as they crossed the threshold both felt instinctively that so

A yard, the hter, came forward to meet them with an air of relief which did not conceal the anxiety in his whole bearing

"Mr Cheniston--sir--there's been an accident--Miss Cherry--she's burnt----"

"Burnt!" Iris and Bruce echoed the word simultaneously; and the ot playing with matches--Tochatti left her alone for a ht to have done"--in his distress his usual correctness of speech and deport him a mere human man--"and Miss Cherry's dress--a little fliht fire, and before it was put out she'd got burned----"

"Where is Mrs Carstairs?"

"Upstairs with Miss Cherry, sir We've been ringing up the doctor--but we can't get no answer----"

Bruce cut him short without cereo ourselves and fetch the doctor, anyway"

Together they ran up the broad staircase, and Bruce led the way to Cherry's little roo

As they entered Chloe Carstairs looked round; and her eyes appeared almost black, so dilated were the pupils

"Bruce!" Her deep voice held a note of relief "You have co for the child"

"Is she badly burnt?" Iris approached softly and stood looking down at the ure in the bed

"Yes" Chloe's manner was impressive by reason of its very quietness "She is--very badly burnt, and until the doctor comes we can do so little"