"All righty." Henrietta rose, shaking down her skirt. "I won't." She ground out her cigarette in the ash tray, with a shrewd upward glance at Catherine. "You go to bed. You look too frayed. This is just a first hurdle, you know. I'll come in before nine to-morrow. But you make Charles stay, if I should be later." VI Catherine woke into complete alertness. Charles had come in. She heard his cautious step in the hall. Letty was sleeping easily, her breathing soft and regular again. Catherine slipped noiselessly out of the room. "Hello!" She brushed into Charles at the door. "Marian's in my bed," she whispered. "Have a good time?" "Oh, fair." Charles yawned. "How's Letty?" "Asleep. Tell me about it in the morning. We might wake her." * * * * * In the morning Catherine was fagged. All night the awareness of Letty had kept her at the thin edge of sleep, drawn out by the faintest stirring. The child was sitting up in bed, now, clamoring for her doll, her bwekkust, and her go-duck; her cheeks were pink, but they seemed flower-cool to Catherine's fingers. "Let's see if you have any speckles, Letty." She peeled the night dress down; one round red spot in the shell-hollow of her knee. "Is that a speckle, Letty Hammond, or a mosquito bite!" Letty gurgled deliciously as Catherine's fingers tickled. "Let's see your throat. No, wider? Does it hurt?" "Uh huh. Hurt Letty." Letty's arms were tight around her neck, and she bounced vigorously up and down on her pillow. "Here, stop it." Catherine pinioned her firmly. "Where does it hurt?" "Hurt Letty. Here." Letty sat down with a plump, and pointed at her toe. "Well, you don't look sick, I must say. But that spot--" Catherine imprisoned her in the night dress again, and tucked her firmly under the blanket. "I'll bring Matilda, and you can put her to bed with you. Dr. Henrietta's coming to see you soon." Marian appeared at the door. "Daddy's asleep and I didn't know he was in his bed." She giggled. "I most woke him up jumping on him." "Hurry and wash, dear. And don't come in with Letty, please." Catherine sighed a little as she hurried to thrust herself into the shafts of the morning. Letty's frequent interruptions, and Charles's reluctance to wake; the discovery that there were no oranges; the demoniac speed of the clock--it was after eight when they sat down to breakfast. Catherine drank her coffee, and hurried off to dress. Flora came in. Catherine heard her, with relief, offering to make fresh toast for Charles. Miss Kelly appeared. She was calmly solicitous as Catherine explained Dr. Henrietta's visit. "Of course, I couldn't go into quarantine," she said, "on account of my mother." "I understand. If you'll just take the other children outdoors for the morning----"