Mr. Bobbsey was startled and with good reason, for he had heard of more than one little girl dying from too much jumping. He took the limp form up in his arms and hurried to the Lavine house with it. "Run and tell Doctor Briskett," he called back to Nan. The physician mentioned lived but a short block away, and Nan ran as fast as her feet could carry her. The doctor had just come in from making his morning calls and had his hat and overcoat still on. "Oh, Doctor Briskett, do come at once!" she sobbed. "Grace Lavine is dead, and we did it, turning the rope for her!" "Grace Lavine dead?" repeated the dumfounded doctor. "Yes! yes!" "Where is she?" "Papa just carried her into her house." Without waiting to hear more, Doctor Briskett ran toward the Lavine residence, around which quite a crowd had now collected. In the crowd was Bert. "Is Grace really dead?" he asked. "I--I--guess so," answered Nan. "Oh, Bert, it's dreadful! I was turning the rope and she had reached ninety-seven, when all at once she sank down, and----" Nan could not go on, but leaned on her twin brother's arm for support. "You girls are crazy to jump rope so much," put in a big boy, Danny Rugg by name. Danny was something of a bully and very few of the girls liked him. "It's no worse than playing football," said a big girl. "Yes, it is, much worse," retorted Danny. "Rope jumping brings on heart disease. I heard father tell about it." "I hope Grace didn't get heart disease," sobbed Nan. "You turned the rope," went on Danny maliciously. "If she dies, they'll put you in prison, Nan Bobbsey." "They shan't do it!" cried Bert, coming to his sister's rescue. "I won't let them." "Much you can stop 'em, Bert Bobbsey." "Can't I?" "No, you can't." "I'll see if I can't," answered Bert, and he gave Danny such a look that the latter edged away, thinking he was going to be attacked. Doctor Briskett had gone into the house and the crowd hung around impatiently, waiting for news. The excitement increased, and Mrs. Bobbsey came forth, followed by Freddie and Flossie, who had just finished playing horse. "Nan, Nan! what can it mean?" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, mamma!" murmured Nan, and sank, limp and helpless, into her mother's arms. Just then Mr. Bobbsey came forth from the Lavine residence. Seeing his wife supporting their daughter, he hurried in that direction. "Grace is not dead," he announced. "She had a fainting spell, that is all. But I think after this she had better leave rope skipping alone." CHAPTER III THE FIRST SNOW STORM Nan felt greatly relieved to learn that Grace was not dead. "Oh, mamma, I am _so_ glad!" she said, over and over again. "I am glad too," answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "Her mamma has told her several times not to jump so much." "Yes, I heard her." Nan's eyes dropped. "I was wicked to turn the rope for her." In the end Nan told her mother the whole story, to which Mrs. Bobbsey listened very gravely.