CHAPTER IX.
SUSAN sat up in bed suddenly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
It was broad day, and the birds were making a mighty clamor.

She gazed round, astonished that it was not her own room.

Then she remembered.

But it was as a child remembers; for when we have the sense of perfect physical well-being we cannot but see our misfortunes with the child's sense of unreality--and Susan had not only health but youth, was still in the child stage of the period between childhood and womanhood.

She lay down again, with the feeling that so long as she could stay in that comfortable bed, with the world shut out, just so long would all be well with her.