Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/104

 "Oh, thanks, but I don't think it would be advisable to disturb her just now. She prefers keeping quite quiet. You see this is—is a very severe attack. I never saw her quite like this before."

"Good gracious! You don't say she is as ill as all that?" cried Mrs. Wilcox, whose one weakness was a frantic fear of contagious maladies. "You don't think it can be any thing serious coming on? They say there is a lot of fever and diphtheria about. Excuse my asking, Miss Prudence, but what are her symptoms? We must take precautions in a house like this."

"Her symptoms? Oh, her symptoms—her symptoms are rather peculiar."

"Indeed. Head-ache? Sore throat? Pain in the back?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. I—am sure it is nothing infectious."

"I hope not, but please tell me what does she complain of?"

"A—a sort of shrinking feeling?"

"Oh! a sinking feeling. No doubt the stomach is out of order. She has taken something that disagreed with her."

"I feel sure she has."

"But if there is nothing more serious than