Page:Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920).djvu/274

242 field. Eunice saw her coming and met her at the door.

“Mercy on us!” gasped Caroline. “ Christopher’s sick and he thinks he’s got the smallpox. Where’s Charles?”

Eunice tottered back against the door. Her hand went up to her side in a way that had been getting very common with her of late. Even in the midst of her excitement Caroline noticed it.

“Eunice, what makes you do that every time anything startles you?” she asked sharply. “Is it anything about your heart? ”’

“I don’t — know. A little pain — it’s gone now. Did you say that Christopher has — the smallpox?”

“Well, he says so himself, and it’s more than likely, considering the circumstances. I declare, I never got such a turn in my life. It’s a dreadful thing. I must find Charles at once — there'll be a hundred things to do.”

Eunice hardly heard her. Her mind was centered upon one idea. Christopher was ill — alone — she must go to him. It did not matter what his disease was. When Caroline came in from her breathless expedition to the barn, she found Eunice standing by the table, with her hat and shawl on, tying up a parcel.

“Eunice! Where on earth are you going?”

“Over home,” said Eunice. “If Christopher is