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192 before many minutes were over, and signalled to Sybil across the salon, who got up at once and followed her.

she asked.

she said, looking at her,

Sybil stood there a minute, biting her lip. She had a physical repulsion to illness, which, though it shocked her that she should feel it, yet dominated her. Since she had taken Charlie in hand, she had had daily to wrestle with it, and though, owing to his very satisfactory progress, it had become easier to overcome, yet it was always there. But she decided almost immediately.

she said, then paused. she asked.

Mrs. Brancepeth's eyes lit up with a momentary indignation.

she exclaimed involuntarily.

She took Sybil's hands in hers.

she said;

Entreaty vibrated in her voice, and her hands trembled. Sybil felt immensely sorry for her, and her sorrow overcame her repugnance at what lay before her. Her horror for illness was of the same character as a child's fear of the dark—unreasonable, but overmastering. But in the presence of this mother's anxiety it was conquered for the moment.