Then, with a sudden sharp fear at her heart, she flew to his side.
"Aren't you feeling very well ?" she asked anxiously, and Charlie shook his head, but with tears in his eyes, tears of weakness and disappointment.
"Shall I ask Miss Patch to come down here ?" she asked presently, longing to rouse and cheer him.

But he only shook his head again.
"No, thank you, it would be too much trouble for her, and--don't you think it would be nice to stay quiet, just by ourselves, this afternoon ?" he asked.

"Will you read to me, or tell me about Springbrook ?" "Of course I will, dear," she answered warmly; "but--but I had better go up and tell Miss Patch, hadn't I, or she would think it unkind ?" This, though, was not her only reason for going.

She wanted to be alone, away from him for a moment, to try and recover herself, and face this new shock.
"Miss Patch," she cried in a tone of agony, "I believe Charlie is worse, he seems so quiet, and so tired, and--and--Oh, Miss Patch, what shall I do! He _must_ get better, he must, he must." But the tears came into Miss Patch's eyes too, and she had little comfort to offer.

She had long had grave fears, and though she had tried to put them aside, she had never quite succeeded.
But Jessie had to control herself, for Charlie was waiting for her.
"When these fogs are gone, and the spring comes, and the sunshine," she said, trying to pluck up hope, "he will be better, I am sure." "This weather certainly tries the strongest," said Miss Patch, with a sigh.