"But what do you know about her? thought they came here as strangers." "All the same, I know something." Mrs. Cragg's air was of fascinating mystery. "Tell me, there's a good woman. What do you know?" "Well, I know one thing—that her father was a scamp." "Shouldn't wonder! I saw that man, and I didn't like the looks of him. Nor Smithers didn't either. He wasn't worth much, I shouldn't think." "Took some money that wasn't his, you know." Mrs. Cragg was drawing freely on her imagination. "You don't say so!" "Yes, I do. And got turned off—so he had to go away. That's why they came here. Nice sort of people, eh? I found it out by accident. It isn't easy to throw dust in my eyes. I suspected from the first, and one day it came out. It don't matter how. Pattie only wanted me not to tell." "Well, if I was you, I shouldn't like that young woman to be with Dot. Dishonesty is catching. You'll have Dot infected." "That's Cragg's doing. He won't hear a word against Pattie." "Nor against Pattie's father?" "Won't believe a word of it. Pattie declares it isn't true." "I should like to see Smithers behaving like that! I just should!" remarked Mrs. Smithers. CHAPTER XVII A Secret Made Known "MISS DALE, we shall have you ill next. You must go out this fine morning." The doctor was impressed by the smallness and paleness of Pattie's face. He had come late, and for once the nurse had retired, leaving Pattie in charge. "Not this morning, I think. By-and-by, when nurse can come." "Not till evening, you mean. But how do you suppose you are going to manage when nurse is gone? You cannot be in the room always. Now that Dot is so much better, other people must take a share in the nursing." By other people the doctor meant Mrs. Cragg. "Would it be good for Dot?" "I don't see why not. Dot only needs to be amused and kept quiet." Precisely what Mrs. Cragg was not fitted to undertake, thought Pattie; but she could not say so. The doctor would have to find out for himself. "I don't feel that I want to go out this morning." "The more reason why you should do so. You are getting used up. Mrs. Cragg"—as she came in—"I am telling Miss Dale that she must take a run early; not spend the whole day in this room. You can arrange it? She's looking tired." "Pattie has nothing to keep her indoors," declared Mrs. Cragg. "She's only got to please herself." The expression that crossed the doctor's face was odd, to say the least. "Can one of the maids take care of Dot?" he asked, bent upon his object. "We haven't found a new nursemaid yet, and Jane's gone. I can stay, of course. It don't matter what I have to do anywhere else. Dot'll be all right." "She cannot be left alone," remarked the young doctor. "I know that." "Well then, you'd better be off, Miss Dale," said the doctor. Pattie had to submit. Dot stretched out a small hand. "Pattie mustn't do. Wants own darling Pattie."