’Ross, we’ve had such an excitement while you were away. We’ve found the date in the roof, and it’s 1570.’ ’Oh, really,’ he drawled. After that I gave it up. If 1570 wouldn’t melt an iceberg, nothing would, so we adjourned to the hall for coffee, and now there sits on one side of the fire, surrounded by ice and snow fields, something which was once my twin, while I sit on the other writing my novel, trying to get thawed, pretending I don’t mind a bit. I have such a poisonous headache. I feel so funny! I—— * * * * * For ten days I haven’t been allowed to write, not even to Michael, and even now I may only do so for a ’very little while.’ After my headache I remember nothing till I found myself in bed and Ross making up the fire, still in his old dinner jacket. He looked a giant in the dim light, and I called out to him,— ’Why am I in bed if it’s dinner time?’ ’It isn’t, it’s eleven o’clock at night.’ ’Then why are you here, Ross?’ ’You weren’t very well, fainted or something naughty, and I’m just going to change and stay with you for a bit.’ ’But I don’t want any one to sit up with me.’ ’Sorry,’ said the giant firmly. ’No, but I mean that I don’t need any one.’ ’The doctor’s the best judge of that, Meg.’ ’Ross, am _I_ ever the best judge of anything? ’Not to talk till you’re better,’ he replied. I said, ’Oh, I shan’t be better till I’ve talked.’ So he said I might ’a very little while then.’ ’Have I got the bug?’ I asked. ’Yes, a minute one, so Nannie mustn’t come because of the Gidger; it’s nothing to be alarmed about.’ ’I’m not a bit alarmed about the bug, only it always frightens me to faint. You won’t leave me when I feel like fainting, will you?’ I asked, feeling very like it at the moment. Even an iceberg seems a standby when you’re going to faint. Then I began to shake and shiver and felt as if I were slipping down a slope, till Ross held me in his arms to stop me sliding down so fast. When I was a little better I said,— ’Oh, don’t be angry with me any more.’ He was so ridiculous then and teased me, said I must be much worse than the doctor thought, to mind about any one being angry with me. ’But I do mind,’ I said. He was very sweet to me. I can’t think how big things can be so gentle. ’Of course, I’m not "angry" with you, darling, only I feel I have so badly bungled things, if you felt it was necessary to go to the hospital without telling me.’ ’But, Ross, if you had been here, you wouldn’t have let me go.’ ’Well, of course I wouldn’t when you catch the ’flu every time you meet the bug. Michael——’ ’Oh, don’t let Michael be angry with me either, I can’t bear it.’ ’Oh, Meg, I’m sure your temperature must have gone up miles, I shall have to send the S.P. for the doctor, if you go on being "meek." Has Michael ever been angry with you, you little goose?’ ’No, except about the being taken care of side of things.’