Harriet took Ralph to her own room. There she changed all his things and made him get into her bed until she could fetch some fresh ones for him. He was cold, and shivering a great deal, but Harriet, quite unacquainted with the illnesses of young children, was not in the least alarmed. She ransacked Ralph's wardrobe for another little drill suit, and he was dressed in new, dry clothes, and all trace of his ducking in the pond was removed before the party returned from their picnic. Harriet herself had remained much longer than Ralph in her wet things, but she also was in fresh garments when they stood holding each other's hands ready to welcome the others on their return. Somehow, that ducking in the pond had quite managed to restore Harriet's good humour. She and Ralph now held a secret between them, and she was firmly convinced that his friendship for Robina must be seriously weakened thereby. "Why, Ralph, my little man," said his father, "you do look well." He was pleased to see how bright his little son's eyes were and what a high colour he had in his cheeks, and never guessed that the brightness of the eyes was caused by slight fever, and that the pretty cheeks were flushed for the same reason. At dinner time. Ralph, of his own accord elected to sit near Harriet, and at intervals during the meal he whispered in her ear: "None of them knew 'cept you and me I risked my life for you, and you risked your life for me." "Yes, yes," whispered Harriet back; "but none of the others must know. Don't say those words so loud, Ralph, or they will hear us." Ralph snuggled close to Harriet, now in an ecstasy at the thought which the great secret they held between them caused. The rest of the day's programme was carried out in all its entirety. But towards evening, Ralph's feverish symptoms had increased. During the picnic tea he was unable to eat anything, and Harriet when questioned had to confess that her throat was sore. The next day both Harriet and Ralph were ill, but Harriet was much worse than Ralph. To be in bed, to be unable to get up and enjoy the fresh air and the sunshine was a trial very hard for so small a boy as Ralph to bear; but when he was told that Harriet was worse than he, and that the doctor had to be sent for, he submitted to his own illness with a good grace. It was Robina who brought him the tidings. "Harriet is really ill," she said; "but Dr Fergusson says that you will very soon be all right again; you have only caught a little cold: I wonder how you managed it." "Oh, I know quite well all about it," said Ralph. "Do you, dear? then you ought to tell us," said Robina. Ralph's soft brown eyes flashed with anger. "Does you think I'd be so mean?" he said. Robina looked at him in surprise. After a long time he made the following remark: "Harriet is quite the most noble girl in the world. If it was not for Harriet, there'd be no me at all." Robina burst into a merry laugh.