"Yes, dear; I think so. Being Sunday, it has taken longer to get through. Uncle has heard from the postmaster at W--, the nearest town, as the village telegraph office would be closed. The message has been sent on by messenger on horseback. So I think Miss Desmond must have received it by this time." "She might have been out when it arrived, Auntie." "Do you expect to feel less pain, dear, when Miss Desmond receives the telegram?" "Yes, Auntie, I know I shall." Seven o’clock--eight o’clock--nine o’clock passed. No reply telegram came. Mrs. Mandeville wrote a letter to go by the evening post, giving more details, and describing Carol’s great desire to have a message from her. Dr. Burton came again at night. His instructions had been carried out. The medicine sent had been given every hour. Still the patient’s temperature was higher, the pain he was suffering more acute, and the symptoms which pointed to meningitis more pronounced. "If he could sleep--a long natural sleep might save him," Dr. Burton said. During the night Mrs. Mandeville was persuaded to take a little rest on a couch in the room, whilst Nurse and Colonel Mandeville kept watch beside the bed. Carol offered no opposition to anything that was done for him, and drank the medicine without a murmur, when the spoon was put to his lips. In the morning, when Mrs. Mandeville was again alone with him, he said, "Auntie, I wonder why it hurts me to try to think. I tried so hard to go to sleep in the night and I could not. Then I began to think about Jesus when he was a little boy. We are not told that he was ever ill, and had to lie in bed, are we? But I felt quite sure, if he ever did, he would do just what his mother wanted him to do, wouldn’t he? I know medicine and the bandages are not doing me any good, but it makes you happy for me to have them, doesn’t it, Auntie?" "Yes, darling; it seems all that we can do for you." "If you understood Science, you could help me now, Auntie." "Indeed then, I wish that I did, Carol." "Sometimes the room seems to go dark, Auntie. In the night, two or three times, it was just as if the lamp went out, then lighted up again." Mrs. Mandeville understood enough to know this was very grave. "Darling, will you try to lie quite still, and close your eyes--try not to think about anything?" "Yes, Auntie, but I do hope a message will come from Cousin Alicia to-day. You will tell me when it comes, won’t you?" "Instantly, dear." "I wish I could go to sleep, Auntie." "I wish so too, my poor, dear boy." "Could you move me a tiny bit, Auntie? I ache so lying in the same position. It seems so strange not to be able to move myself at all. Error seems very real." Gently and lovingly, she tried to ease his position, but the least touch brought an expression of acute pain. She had to desist.