"I do b’lieve I’ll scorch you." Eagerly she snuggled into his arms. "When I smell burning, I’ll put you back into your bed. Head ache, old girl?" "Yes. I s’pose it couldn’t grow any bigger in one could it? It _feels_ so big and heavy." "That’s because it’s full of all the sleep you ought to have had." When he was going, she stopped him:— "Denis, there aren’t _many_ people who—who have throwed theirselves off the monnyment, are there?" "Bless you, no! Only one or two poor lunatics who didn’t know what they were doing!" "Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt a lunytic quite so much?" "Not it! You see, the poor things wouldn’t be feeling the same as ordinary people—they’d all be dulled and heavy. Don’t think of them, there’s a good old Atom!" "Denis, will you come back before you go to the bank again?" "Why, yes, asthore! I won’t be long over lunch." The long, weary day dragged slowly on. Sheila Pat set all her hardy will to work, and succeeded in silencing her tongue. But Nell, looking at the restless little head tossing, turning, burrowing into the pillows; at the great heavy, weary eyes; wished her will were not so strong. She was sure it would be better for the Atom to give way and cry her cry out. The puzzled look that she met again and again in her eyes, the seeking, despairing expression, wrung her heart. She knew that the poor Atom could not understand; that she was at war with Providence in a vague, bewildered way, and that she was heartsick for her country. Nell refused to leave her; but at last, in the afternoon, Miss Kezia, with strong common sense, put matters before her, and Nell went for a little walk with Molly. Miss Kezia betook herself and her knitting to the Atom’s room. The Atom was lying with all the bedclothes off and trailing on the floor. Miss Kezia put them on again in silence. Sudden wicked feverish battle leapt to the Atom’s eyes. Directly Miss Kezia had sat down she kicked them off again. Miss Kezia rose and rearranged them. When this had taken place four times, Sheila Pat lay exhausted and breathing hard, but in her eyes there still lurked battle. "Please will you fetch my Pearl?" She watched triumphantly. "If you don’t, I’ll go and fetch him myself." Miss Kezia hesitated. "I will!" the Atom said firmly. "I’ll bring him up in his cage." Miss Kezia rose. The triumph fell away from the flushed, restless face. "I don’t want him, thank you. I’m afraid of givin’ him my cold." "Very well," patiently. Sheila Pat watched her a minute. "May I have some toast water, please?" Pause. "I’ve dropped my handkerchief out of bed, Aunt Kezia." Pause. "Please will you readrange my pillow?" Pause. "May I have some more water, please, Aunt Kezia?" Then Sheila Pat chuckled hysterically at the idea of her being able to make her aunt trot about just as she wished. But the amusement palled; listless curiosity made her ask, "Why don’t you tell me to be quiet, Aunt Kezia?"