"Now, Louie," began Phil, escorting her to her door, "if you get a granny fit in the night and see horrible things, you just come to my room and hop into bed with me, and think what a gay time you'll be having tomorrow night this time, much gayer than Miss Nevins with all her money and her three party frocks with no place to display them." Louie laughed. "Oh, Phil, you're such a comfort," she said with an extravagant hug, "but aren't you going home tomorrow?" "No, not until Friday. I want to see Zay before I go, and I'm not afraid of unlucky Friday either," laughing. Louie slept soundly and was in very good spirits. The girls were all eager for the morning paper. The scare was pretty well over. The boys had been buried, the little girl was no worse and if fever did not develop it would simply be a case of measles. Then most of the girls said good-by, wishing each other a merry Christmas. The others huddled together and bewailed their hard lot, missing Miss Boyd very much. Her mother was quite poorly, which was given as her excuse. Mrs. Dane insisted upon a rigorous exclusion until all danger of contagion was over. Quite late in the afternoon Phillipa walked over to Crawford House and sent up her card to Zaidee with a penciled message. The girl came flying through the hall, more beautiful than ever Phil thought, in her soft red cashmere with white lace garnishings. "Oh, Phil dear, I'm so glad to see you! I was afraid you would go home before I had a glimpse of you. We've been so busy and so full of joy! Oh, you can't think what it is to see mother walking around with no crutches and the wheel chair set aside, and she's in such splendid spirits. Vincent will be allowed to come home as a special favor to papa, getting here early Monday morning and returning that night. We're just going to have a family dinner with a very few dear friends, but New Year's night I am to have a party. Oh, can't you come back a little sooner. I'd like so to have you." "I don't believe I can, and you know there are the lovers and the diamond ring"--laughing. "Oh, dear! _Can_ you believe any of it? And the surprise that I'm not going to be pleased with. It isn't that Willard has fallen in love, he is going to have his three years' cruise first. Oh, were you _much_ frightened, Phil? It was dreadful, and no one can tell where the boys took the disease. I can't help feeling sorry for the poor mother if she is a humbug, it is such a sad Christmas for her, and was Louie much frightened?" "Oh, she almost went into hysterics and I was afraid she'd give us all away, but I did manage to get her off safely, and bound her by the most solemn promises not to mention the escapade at home. It wasn't the right thing for us to do of course, but mischief always looks so tempting to you and if we keep silence no harm will be done. It wasn't as bad as they thought." A shudder went over Zay's slight figure.