In the parlor she hardly waited for a conventional greeting. "What is it? Has anything happened to Philip?" "Yes," he answered gravely. "Philip is ill--not alarmingly so, I hope, but seriously." "What is the matter with him? How long has he been sick?" "I knew nothing of it till yesterday morning, though Mammy Cely tells me he was restless and feverish all the night before. I sent for the doctor at once and he got a nurse there by noon. I shall get another one to-day--a night nurse." "Two nurses! What do they think it is?" "The doctor pronounces it scarlet fever." "Scarlet fever!" Every vestige of color left her face. "How could he have taken scarlet fever? Has he been exposed to it?" Then rapidly counting back, "It must have been at the egg-rolling!" Since she had answered her own question Mr. De Jarnette apparently did not consider it necessary to do so. She looked at her watch and moved across the room. "I assure you that he shall have every possible care--but I felt that you ought to know. If you should wish to go to him--" She turned as she reached the bell and looked at him without reply. "Tell Fanny to pack a few things suitable for the sick room in my suit case," she said to the servant who answered, "and be quick about it." She called him back to add, "Send Mrs. Pennybacker to me." "Can we catch the three o'clock train?" she asked in a voice so contained that he looked at her in astonishment. "I fear not. And the next does not go till five. If--I notice that your carriage is at the door. If you would not mind the ride that would be the quickest way to get there. We could make it in an hour by good driving." "Then we will go that way." Just at this minute Mrs. Pennybacker came in. She sat down, looking her surprise at seeing Mr. De Jarnette. There was that in his face which precluded the thought of his being here for any trivial reason. "I am going with Mr. De Jarnette to Elmhurst," said Margaret, with preternatural calmness. "Philip is ill--with scarlet fever." "Scarlet fever!" Mrs. Pennybacker's searching eyes were upon Mr. De Jarnette. "How--in the world--could he have been exposed to scarlet fever?" "Probably the day of the egg-rolling," Margaret again answered for him. "I leave everything with you. I shall be there indefinitely." "But Margaret, child, you ought not to go alone. I feel that I ought to go with you. And yet I don't see how I can leave Rosalie. She is in that condition that it is impossible to tell when the end will come. She may linger for weeks and it may come at any moment." "You can't go," said Margaret. "And Bess cannot go, for she is too much of a child herself." "And besides she has never had scarlet fever." "No. There's nothing for me to do but to go alone." "The nurse will be there," suggested Mr. De Jarnette. "Oh, the _nurse_!" said Mrs. Pennybacker. "Aunt Mary--if--" she grew white and shut her lips.