THE MOCKER

White Ribbon, Volume 37, Issue 433, 18 August 1931, Page 5

THE MOCKER

(Continued.) CHA ITER IX. Mrs Moore was alone in the diningroom when Phyllis came down, John having taken a footitall out on to the trout lawn. ‘What a frightful cough Joan has, mother,” Phyllis exclaimed. “Do you think we could give her something to east it?' "Well, Anne said just to keep her warm, dear, and to let her have a •deep. Billy will he in soon, and then our responsibility will end.” Phyllis sighed, and went over to the window' to watch John’s antics. Mrs Moore looked keenly at her, hut, with great wisdom, refrained from passing any remark. The mother had been aware, after her first glance at her daughter that morning, that all was not well with this beautiful, gifted, highly-strung girl of hers. She prayed silently and fervently for courage ami wisdom, and that all things should work together

for good. For a while Phyllis stood idly gazing out of the window, until Mrs Moore, glancing up from her work, said: “Why not go and have a rest yourself, Phyl? I will look after John You know, you have a strenuous pro gramme to-night?” “I l>elieve I will, mother. I feel a bit weary, and it must be Joan’s sickness that is depressing me so. I wish 1 did not have to sing to-night, hut perhaps the wee ones cold will l>e better after her sleep. If Anne comes in. ask her to come straight up, please." All thought of her own weariness and depression was completely forgotten, however, when she reached Joan's l>edside. The little girl lay staring with dull, heavy eyes. Her cheeks were flushed scarlet, and her lips were dry and cracked. Her breath was coming in short, quick pants, and, as Phyllis stood looking aghast at her, she coughed distressingly’ and with evident pain.

“Oh! Joan, darling!" Phyllis exclaimed, terrified at the alarming change in her small friend. She lifted Joan out of bed, wrapping the eiderdown quilt warmly round her, and earned her to a chair In front of the fire. Sitting down, she attempted to sit Joan up on her knees, but the sick ghlid’s head dropped heavily hack on her arm. and her respiration became so difficult that Phyllis turned cold w’ith fear, and h*r heart almost stopped beating. * Almost distraught, she rose* and started towards the door. As she did so, the handle turned softly and a head appeared round the door. To Phyllis’s great relief, it was Anne, cool, capable, n.d comfortingly experienced, and vhtn the Waddler saw her friend’s noxious face, she came quickly In and shut the door. "It’s alright, Linnet. Sit down while 1 get my hat and coat off.*’ She busied herself for a few’ minutes, and '•lien she came over to the fireplace she

helu her small thermometer in her hand. "Now, we’ll just take her temp., Linnet. Hold her so,” and she inserteel the thermometer deftly and spoke a tew soothing words to Joan, who seemed scarcely conscious. While waiting for tlie thermometer to register, Anne looked up into her friend’s white, strained face, and smiled reassuringly. "Buck up, Phyl. Nothing injures the patient like an atmosphere of scare, and small folk are so quickly up and down; there is no cause for aiarm yet." She removed the thermometer and read it, but Phyllis could not guess from her face the result. She simply said. "Now, Linnet, give Joan to me. Go down and phone the doctor to come at onc«. Don’t worry, old girl,” giving Pnyl’s shoulders a squeeze. "Just get Billy, and trust Joan to us.’’ "What is It?" whispered Phyllis, with dry lips. "ft’s the doctor who must diagnose, Linuet Go on, like a dear, and get him here.”

So Phyllis put Joan into the Waddlcr’s turns and went downstairs without ar.othei word or look. First, she rang the hall, where preparations were being made for the Ball, but was told that he had not yet put ,n an appearance there. Next she tried h’r residence, hut his housekeeper informed her that he had gone out, as usual, after his afternoon consultation hours, and had left no word as to his movements. She was at a loss what to do next, and was debating the best course of action, when the ’phone rang l>eside her. When she replied, Kona’s voice asked what she wanted the doctor for. "Joan is decidedly worse, Kona, and Anne told me to get Billy. I was going to ring you as soon as he had seen Joan,” Phyllis explained. "Oh! Anne is a real scare-monger," Fiona answered, impatiently. "Mothers understand their children best, and 1 know young Joan. She likes to be taken notice of, and often pretends to l>e ill so as to keep everyone dancing attendance on her.’ “I in sure there’s no pretence this time, Rona.” Phyllis said with emphasis. ‘Tan you get s >meo.ie to hunt Billy up? He is not at home, and Anne says to get him at once.” "Oh! alright then, if you insist. If I Fv.no him along I can stay here with an easy mind. The decorations are looking lovely, Phyl. I do hope we la ve a good crowd and everything goes olt ulright. What are you going to wear?" "I really don’t know, Get Billy here as soon as possible, Rona!” and she rang off without waiting an answer, feeling thoroughly disgusted with Kona’s callousness. "How’ ever can she take any interest in dancing and dressing," she thought to herself. "But, there, I must not judge her. If Billy says Joan Is really 111, 1 guess Rona will drop everything and come to her. (To be Continued.)