At length he seemed to take a distinct turn for the better. One night after a violent perspiration she was trying to change the bedclothes and make him more comfortable when he spoke to her quite clearly and in a voice unlike the almost incoherent ramblings of the last few days,--“What a wonderful little angel you are,” he said. “I could not do less,” she replied. “I see no reason why you should do anything at all; how long have you been tending me like this?” “Audry has been attending you a great part of the time.” “Then I have been ill for a long while.” “Some little while,” she said, “but you are better now; I have been so frightened that you would never get well any more.” “But that would not matter to you.” Aline laughed,--“Why then I should have had all my trouble for nothing.” “But it would have been simpler to have taken no trouble at all.” “Simpler, but how dull; do you know this is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me?” “A poor kind of excitement,” he said; “why, you are looking very ill yourself; do not people notice it?” “Oh, yes, they say, ‘You are a little scarecrow.’” “Who say?” “Mistress Mowbray, she has come home again to-day.” “I did not know that she had gone away, but is that all that she says; does she not suggest doing anything?” “Marry no, she only said, ‘Child, you have been eating too many good things while I am away; you must not get ill; I have a great deal of work for you to do. To-morrow you have to work hard after all this time of idleness.’ Now you must not talk any more; it is a great thing to hear you talk properly at all, and it would be foolish to let you make yourself ill again.” He wanted her to go on; but again he saw that firm determined look in her manner that he had noticed before and knew that it would be useless to try and move her. “Well, little princess,” he said, “if those are your commands I suppose that they must be obeyed.” “Certainly, sirrah, it is time that you went to sleep.” It was fortunate for the children that Menstrie’s illness took a turn for the better when it did, for it would have been impossible for them to give him much time after Mistress Mowbray’s return. But it was clear that it would be a long time before he would be able to get about. They both came in on the following night and found that while there was no doubt about the improvement, he was miserably weak and ill. Aline tried to prevent him from talking, but he was anxious to hear how things had gone with them. “Well, what have you been doing all day?” he said. “We have been hemming great holland sheets,” said Aline. “Well, that is not very exciting,” he said. “More exciting perhaps than you think,” said Audry. “Mother was very cross, and Aline certainly had an exciting time.” “Hush, Audry,” said Aline very softly.