"That was a mean speech, Nora," he said in a low, angry voice.
_I_ think it was mean, too; but perhaps it was because she felt badly
about papa that Nora spoke so,--as nurse says, different people have
different ways of showing their feelings,--for she put out her hand and
commenced, quickly, "I didn't mean to hurt--"
But while she was speaking, Nannie came out of the study. "Oh, Phil,"
she said, as soon as she saw him, "come right in here, won't you? the
doctor says we must get papa to bed as quickly as possible, and you can
help us."
Phil flung his books on the hat-rack table, and followed her into the
room at once, and they shut the study door.
It opened again, though, in a minute or two, and out came Miss Marston,
just in time to catch Alan as he rushed along the hall, away from Betty,
who was in hot pursuit. "What are _you_ doing down here?" demanded Miss
Marston, severely.
"They're all here," Alan paused to explain, rather defiantly, whereupon
Betty pounced on him.
Miss Marston held a hot-water bottle in her hand; she was on her way to
the kitchen, but she stopped to speak to the children,--for at the sound
of her voice Nora had opened the drawing-room doors, and Kathie, Paul,
and Maedel had tumbled out into the hall in a body.
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