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raised　herself　up；　and　gazed　at　him　as　if　in　surprise。　　〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　cried；　〃I　cannot　think　it　is　true。　　Are　you　sure？　　I　could　not　bear　it　if　you　were　mistaken。〃

There　was　the　sound　of　a　footstep　on　the　stair。　　〃Let　me　go；　Jack；　there's　your　sister　coming。　　Quick！　　Lie　down。〃　　Hurriedly；　she　began　once　more　to　bathe　his　face　as　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　came　in。

〃Is　he　resting？〃　she　said。　　〃Why；　Jack；　you　seem　quite　feverish。　Did　you　give　him　his　medicine？〃

〃Yes；　about　an　hour　ago；　I　think。〃

〃An　hour！　　Why；　before　you　came　upstairs？　　How　long　have　you　been　in？〃

〃Oh；　no；　immediately　after　I　came　down；〃　said　the　girl　in　confusion。　〃I　don't　know　how　long　ago。　　I　didn't　look　at　the　time。〃　　She　busied　herself　straightening　the　bed。

〃Sybil；　she　doesn't　know　how　long　ago；〃　said　Jack。　　〃She's　been　behaving　as　I　never　have　heard　of　any　properly　trained　nurse　behaving。　　She's　been　kissing　me。〃

〃Oh；　Jack；〃　gasped　Kathleen；　flushing　furiously。

〃Kissing　you！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　looking　from　one　to　the　other。

〃Yes；　and　I　have　been　kissing　her；〃　continued　Jack　shamelessly。

〃Oh；　Jack；〃　again　gasped　Kathleen；　looking　at　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　beseechingly。

〃Yes；〃　continued　Jack　in　a　voice　of　triumph；　〃and　we　are　going　to　do　it　right　along　every　day　and　all　day　long　with　suitable　pauses　for　other　duties　and　pleasures。〃

〃Oh；　you　darling；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　rushing　at　her。　　〃I　am　so　glad。　　Well；　you　are　a　'wunner'　as　the　Marchioness　says。　　I　had　thoughtbut　never　mind。　　Jack；　dear；　I　do　congratulate　you。　　I　think　you　are　in　awful　luck。　　Yes；　and　you　too；　Kathleen；　for　he　is　a　fine　boy。　　I　will　go　and　tell　Tom　this　minute。〃

〃Do；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　please　don't　hurry。　　My　nurse　is　perfectly　competent　to　take　care　of　me　in　the　meantime。〃



CHAPTER　XV

THE　COMING　OF　JANE


At　sixteen…forty…five　the　Waring…Gaunt　car　was　standing　at　the　Melville　Station　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　train　which　was　to　bring　Jane　and　her　father；　but　no　train　was　in　sight。　　Larry；　after　inquiry　at　the　wicket；　announced　that　she　was　an　hour　late。　　How　much　more　the　agent；　after　the　exasperating　habit　of　railroad　officials；　could　not　say；　nor　could　he　assign　any　reason　for　the　delay。

〃Let　me　talk　to　him；〃　said　Nora　impatiently。　　〃I　know　Mr。　Field。〃

Apparently　the　official　reserve　in　which　Mr。　Field　had　wrapped　himself　was　not　proof　against　the　smile　which　Nora　flung　at　him　through　the　wicket。

〃We　really　cannot　say　how　late　she　will　be；　Miss　Nora。　　I　may　tell　you；　but　we　are　not　saying　anything　about　it；　that　there　has　been　an　accident。〃

〃An　accident！〃　exclaimed　Nora。　　〃Why；　we　are　expecting〃

〃No；　there　is　no　one　hurt。　　A　freight　has　been　derailed；　and　torn　up　the　track　a　bit。　　The　passenger　train　is　held　up　just　beyond　Fairfield。　　It　will　be　a　couple　of　hours；　perhaps　three；　before　she　arrives。〃　　At　this　point　the　telegraph　instrument　clicked。　　〃Just　a　minute；　Miss　Nora；　there　may　be　something　on　the　wire。〃　　With　his　fingers　on　the　key　he　executed　some　mysterious　prestidigitations；　wrote　down　some　words；　and　came　to　the　wicket　again。　　〃Funny；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　a　wire　for　you；　Miss　Nora。〃

Nora　took　the　yellow　slip　and　read：　　〃Delayed　by　derailed　freight。　Time　of　arrival　uncertain。　　Very　sorry；　Jane。〃

〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃　cried　Nora；　carrying　the　telegram　out　to　the　car。　　〃Isn't　it　perfectly　exasperating？　　That　takes　off　one　of　their　nights。〃

〃Where　is　the　accident？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃Just　above　Fairfield。〃

〃Fairfield！　　The　poor　things！　　Jump　in　and　we　will　be　there　in　no　time。　　It　is　not　much　further　to　Wolf　Willow　from　Fairfield　than　from　here。　　Hurry　up；　we　must　make　time。〃

〃Now；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　I　know　your　driving。　　Just　remember　that　I　am　an　only　son。　　I　prefer　using　all　four　wheels　on　curves；　please。〃

〃Let　her　go；〃　cried　Nora。

And　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　〃let　her　go〃　at　such　speed　that　Larry　declared　he　had　time　for　only　two　perfectly　deep　breaths；　one　before　they　started；　the　other　after　they　had　pulled　up　beside　the　Pullman　car　at　the　scene　of　the　wreck。

〃Jane；　Jane；　Jane；〃　yelled　Larry；　waving　his　hands　wildly　to　a　girl　who　was　seen　sitting　beside　a　window　reading。　　The　girl　looked　up；　sprang　from　her　seat；　and　in　a　moment　or　two　appeared　on　the　platform。　　〃Come　on；〃　yelled　Larry。　　He　climbed　over　a　wire　fence；　and　up　the　steep　grade　of　the　railroad　embankment。　　Down　sprang　the　girl；　met　him　half　way　up　the　embankment；　and　gave　him　both　her　hands。　　〃Jane；　Jane；〃　exclaimed　Larry。　　〃You　are　looking　splendidly。　Do　you　know；〃　he　added　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　should　love　to　kiss　you　right　here。　　May　I？　　Look　at　all　the　people；　they　would　enjoy　it　so　much。〃

The　girl　jerked　away　her　hands；　the　blood　showing　dully　under　her　brown　skin。　　〃Stop　it；　you　silly　boy。　　Is　that　Nora？　　Yes；　it　is。〃　She　waved　her　hand　wildly　at　Nora；　who　was　struggling　frantically　with　the　barbed　wire　fence。　　〃Wait；　I　am　coming；　Nora；〃　cried　Jane。

Down　the　embankment　she　scrambled　and；　over　the　wire；　the　two　girls　embraced　each　other　to　the　delight　of　the　whole　body　of　the　passengers　gathered　at　windows　and　on　platforms；　and　to　the　especial　delight　of　a　handsome　young　giant；　resplendent　in　a　new　suit　of　striped　flannels；　negligee　shirt；　blue　socks　with　tie　to　match；　and　wearing　a　straw　hat　adorned　with　a　band　in　college　colours。　　With　a　wide　smile　upon　his　face　he　stood　gazing　down　upon　the　enthusiastic　osculation　of　the　young　ladies。

〃Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　this　is　Jane；〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　has　come　to　meet　you　and　take　you　home；〃　she　added　to　Jane。　　〃You　know　we　have　no　car　of　our　own。〃

〃How　do　you　do；〃　said　Jane；　smiling　at　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃I　can't　get　at　you　very　well　just　now。　　It　was　very　kind　of　you　to　come　for　us。〃

〃And　she　has　left　her　brother　very　sick　at　home；〃　said　Nora　in　a　low　voice。

〃We　won't　keep　you　waiting；〃　said　Jane；　beginning　to　scramble　up　the　bank　again。　　〃Come；　Larry；　I　shall　get　father　and　you　shall　help　with　our　things。〃

〃Right　you　are；〃　said　Larry。

〃Met　your　friends；　I　see；　Miss　Brown；〃　said　the　handsome　giant。　　〃I　know　it　is　mean　of　me；　but　I　am　really　disgusted。　　It　is　bad　enough　to　be　held　up　here　for　a　night；　but　to　lose　your　company　too。〃

〃Well；　I　am　awfully　glad；〃　said　Jane；　giving　him　such　a　delighted　smile　that　he　shook　his　head　disconsolately。

〃No　need　telling　me　that。　　Say；〃　he　added　in　an　undertone；　〃that's　your　friend　Nora；　ain't　it？　　Stunning　girl。　　Introduce　me；　won't　you？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　will　help　me　with　my　things。　　I　am　in　an　awful　hurry　and　don't　want　to　keep　them　waiting。　　Larry；　this　is　Mr。　Dean　Wakeham。〃　　The　young　man　shook　hands　with　cordial　frankness；　Larry　with　suspicion　in　his　heart。

〃Let　me　have　your　check；　Jane；　and　I　will　go　and　get　your　trunk；〃　said　Larry。

〃No；　you　come　with　me；　Larry；〃　said　Jane　decidedly。　　〃The　trunk　is　too　big　for　you　to　handle。　　Mr。　Wakeham；　you　will　get　it　for　me；　won't　you；　please？　　I　will　send　a　porter　to　help。〃

〃Gladly；　Miss　Brown。　　No；　I　mean　with　the　deepest　pain　and　regret；〃　said　Wakeham；　going　for　the　trunk　while　Larry　accompanied　her　in　quest　of　the　minor　impedimenta　that　constituted　her　own　and　her　father's　baggage。

〃Jane；　have　you　any　idea　how　glad　I　am　to　see　you？〃　demanded　Larry　as　they　passed　into　the　car。

Jane's　radiant　smile　transformed　her　face。　　〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　she　said　simply。　　〃But　we　must　hurry。　　Oh；　here　is　Papa。〃

Dr。　Brown　hailed　Larry　with　acclaim。　　〃This　is　very　kind　of　you；　my　dear　boy；　you　have　saved　us　a　tedious　wait。〃

〃We　must　hurry；　Papa；〃　said　Jane；　cutting　him　short。　　〃Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt；　who　has　come　for　us　in　her　car；　has　left　her　brother　ill　at　home。〃　　She　marshalled　them　promptly　into　the　car　and　soon　had　them　in　line　for　the　motor；　bearing　the　hand　baggage　and　wraps；　the　porter　following　with　Jane's　own　bag。　　〃Thank　you；　porter；〃　said　Jane；　giving　him　a　smile　that　reduced　that　functionary　to　the　verge　of　grinning　imbecility；　and　a　tip　which　he　received　with　an　air　of　absent…minded　indifference。　　〃Good…bye；　porter；　you　have　made　us　very　comfortable；〃　said　Jane；　shaking　hands　with　him。

〃Thank　you；　Miss；　it　shuah　is　a　pleasuah　to　wait　on　a　young　lady　like　you；　Miss。　　It　shuah　is；　Miss。　　Ah　wish　you　a　prospec　jounay；　Miss；　Ah　do。〃

〃I　wonder　what　is　keeping　Mr。　Wakeham；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　am　very　sorry　to　keep　you　waiting；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　Larry；　would　you　mind？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Larry；　hurrying　off　toward　the　baggage　car。　In　a　few　minutes　Mr。　Wakeham　appeared　with　the　doleful　news　that　the　trunk　was　not　in　the　car　and　must　have　been　left　behind。

〃I　am　quite　sure　it　is　there；〃　said　Jane；　setting　off　herself　for　the　car；　the　crestfallen　Mr。　Wakeham　and　the　porter　following　behind　her。

At　the　door　of　the　car　the　baggage　man　met　her　with　regretful　apologies。　　〃The　trunk　must　have　been　left　behind。〃

He　was　brusquely　informed　by　Jane　that　she　had　seen　it　put　on　board。

〃Then　it　must　have　been　put　off　by　mistake　at　Calgary？〃　　This　suggestion　was　brushed　aside　as　unworthy　of　consideration。　　The　trunk　was　here　in　this　car；　she　was　sure。　　This　the　baggage　man　and　Mr。　Wakeham　united　in　declaring　quite　impossible。　　〃We　have　turned　the　blasted　car　upside　down；〃　said　the　latter。

〃Impossible？〃　exclaimed　Jane；　who　had　b