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 attendance; and, forgive me for saying so, I do not think you are a very competent nurse. Besides, we owe it to Mrs. Wilcox to make sure your sister is not threatened with anything contagious."

All this time the resolute medical lady had, step by step, moved Prudence back, so that they both stood within her room. Her eye caught the open door.

"Do let me in," said the medical lady. "I advise it in your own interests. Let me have a peep at her, and if, as you say, she is better and sleeping, I shall be able to reassure Mrs. Wilcox and the others. Miss Belcher and Mrs. Dumaresq are so terribly afraid of anything infectious, that at tea they were talking of leaving."

"No," said Prudence, driven into a corner, "you shall not see her, Miss Lord. She is getting on all right, and does not want to see anyone."

"Shan't I?" suddenly ejaculated the medical lady; and before Prudence knew what she intended, she made a dash at the open door leading to Augusta's room. Prudence, however, was too quick for her. She reached it first, pulled it to, locked it, for the key fortunately was on her side, and, putting