"I do not want to go," said Dick weakly. The long wait was beginning to tell upon him. "After the way that my sister has been treated I prefer to trust to the mercy of my enemies than to receive any benefits from you." "My dear boy, has the little one been speaking of our differences? There were some, I believe. She is headstrong and self-willed, but what would you? I desire to admonish her for disobedience as a mother might, and she grieves me by thinking that I do not love her, but I adore her! You shall both come to us, and you shall see for yourself." "Yes," said Mr. Vance after a low conversation with the provost. "I have arranged with the officer here that you shall come with us to be taken care of. When you are well, then you must return to him. Orderly, can you get some one to assist me in lifting my nephew to the carriage?" So in spite of themselves the brother and sister were placed in charge of their uncle and his wife. The carriage bowled rapidly over the rough streets and at last stopped before a large residence on the summit of one of the hills. The building was long and low roofed, built after the Southern fashion with wide halls and broad galleries running the entire length of the house. It looked very inviting even to Jeanne who hovered protectingly over her brother. "She shan't misuse Dick," she declared, over and over again. "She shan't harm him." Dick was carried carefully into a large room and placed in a clean white bed. A bright fire blazed upon the hearth and its heat was very welcome after the ride in the chill November air. The boy, exhausted from his suffering and weak from loss of blood, fainted as they placed him on the couch and Mr. Vance hurriedly summoned a physician. Jeanne found herself pushed to one side while Mr. and Madame Vance worked over the unconscious lad, but when she saw that their ministrations were for his benefit she was content that it should be so. The most unremitting attention and constant care were what the boy required declared the physician when he had made an examination. The long ride in the rough car and exposure to chill, rendered the best of nursing imperative. "If he does not have it he will die," he said. "Or if his wound breaks out afresh it will be fatal." "He shall not die," cried Madame, with an adorable air of concern. "I will care for him myself, doctor. He shall have the best of care." "I do not doubt it, Madame, with you for his attendant," said the physician, gallantly. "I leave him in good hands." Jeanne saw with gratitude that Madame Vance did really give the best of care to her brother, and she gladly forgave the treatment to which she had been subjected. Occasionally she even forgot her intention of calling her aunt "Aunt Clarisse," and the old "Cherie," came to her lips.