She carried Miles straight up into the nursery, and began to undress him. He presented a curious appearance when his blouse was taken off--strings all knotted together, buttons forced into the wrong holes, and hooks clinging to outlets that were never intended for them. Miles yawned all the time, and sneezed once or twice, each time provoking from Virginie an exclamation, half of alarm and half of anger. "You needn't scold Miles," called out Humphrey, who was being washed in the distance by the nursery-maid; "he didn't want to come--it was all me." When they were dressed again, the two little culprits were seated to their breakfast, but forbidden to hold any communication with each other except in French. It was rather a slow ending to so pleasant a beginning, especially as after breakfast Miles was so tired that he had to lie down, and Humphrey was hardly allowed to move for fear of disturbing him. Virginie would not let them out of her sight for the rest of the day, and they took a dull walk in the afternoon, one on each side of her. Towards evening, Miles gave forth an ominous cough, and was decidedly croupy at night. Virginie's nerves always deserted her when the delicate boy was ill in his father's absence, and towards the middle of the next day she could stand it no longer, and sent off for the doctor. Humphrey was very remorseful when Virginie informed him it was his fault that Miles was unwell, and remained in a state of great depression for about three minutes. But the sight of the doctor's gig coming up the avenue sent it all out of his head, and he dashed down-stairs, three steps at a time, to receive him at the hall door. "Well, Doctor," he called out; "how are you? Why, you've got new harness to your horse! How jolly and clean it looks." "New harness?--yes," said the doctor, dismounting; "but tell me what's the matter with your brother?" "Oh, it was the mushrooms," said Humphrey, vaguely, and with his eyes running over the new reins and straps. "I wonder how long they'll look so fresh and clean?" "Mushrooms!" exclaimed the doctor; "you don't mean to say they let that delicate child eat mushrooms? Has he got an attack of indigestion?" "Oh, no," said Humphrey, springing down the steps and patting the horse; "a pain in his chest, I think. How glossy his coat is to-day, isn't it?" "Same thing--same thing," said the doctor; "and I'm sure I don't wonder, if they let him eat mushrooms." Humphrey burst out laughing, having for the first time given his attention to what the doctor was saying. "Why, they were raw!" he said. "Raw mushrooms!" exclaimed the doctor, "who could have allowed him to eat them?" "But he didn't eat any," said Humphrey, convulsed. And he rolled about so, as he laughed at the doctor's mistake, that he knocked up against the horse, who immediately plunged.