"My dear, there are two sides to that question. You would not find a professional nurse giving you her services for board and lodging. If Pattie is not a professional nurse, the doctor says she is as good a nurse as can be had without the training. And both he and the nurse say she has done more for Dot than either of them." "Dadda!" murmured Dot, clinging to his hand, as he sat beside her. "Dear little Dot!—But you see, don't you?" "I see that Pattie manages to get the upper hand of you men somehow! I'm sick and tired to death of hearing of nothing but Pattie's goodness. If she'd condescend to be bad for once, I could put up with her better." "You would probably be the first to blame her," rejoined Cragg, aware how useless it was to answer his wife, yet for once unable to resist doing so. "There are bad people in plenty. We need a few more good ones." "Wants own darling Pattie!" murmured Dot. "There you go again! Will you hold your tongue, Dot, and not talk in that ridiculous way?" Dot's eyes grew large, and filled with tears. "My dear, think of Dot's state. You must not make her cry," urged Cragg anxiously. "She is not used of late to be spoken to in such a tone." "Wants—Pattie!" sobbed Dot brokenly. "Yes, yes, dear; Pattie will soon come back," said Cragg, stooping over her. "Don't you mind, little one. It's all right. Pattie's only gone for a walk, and she will soon be here. Don't cry, Dot. Ma-ma didn't mean anything unkind. I've got to go to business now, but I shall soon look in again." Dot clutched at him, casting glances of evident shrinking towards Mrs. Cragg. "Dadda—stay! Dadda—not go!" "But I must, dear. I've got somebody waiting now to see me. Just for a little while, and then I'll look in again. And Pattie will come back. And Dot will be good, won't Dot?" Cragg went off with a heavy heart, feeling little doubt that his absence was better than his presence at that moment. Mrs. Cragg, left to herself, would no doubt do what lay in her power for the child. So long as he remained, she would go on showing temper. Dot sobbed quietly, half under the bedclothes, and Mrs. Cragg sat in moody silence. Then she began to grow uneasy. She did not wish Pattie to come back and to find Dot in tears. It would be an admission of failure on her part. So she moved to the chair which Cragg had vacated, and said in a tone meant to be encouraging: "Come now, Dot, you needn't be a little goose." Dot shrank from her. That movement went home. With all Mrs. Cragg's faults, she did love her child. "Come, Dot; don't be cross." "I not doss! Ma-ma doss." Another pause. "Come, don't be silly. What do you want to do? How do you like to be amused?" "Wants darling own Pattie!" "But you can't have Pattie. Not till Pattie chooses to come. She's gone off to amuse herself. You've got to put up with me, so you may as well be good-tempered about it. What's this book? Shall I read to you?"