"Who spoke ?" she demanded; but no one cared to reply. "Mabel Hollys, you look as if you know! Where did that voice come from, and whose is it?"

Mabel replied, as gravely as she could, "It came from behind the curtain, Miss Sharlton. It belongs to Nettie Mason."

There was a merry laugh as Mabel drew the curtain aside, disclosing Nettie, who was frightened at having asked such an inopportune question.

The girls explained to Miss Sharlton the reason for Nettie's strange appearance. They quite feared that the gipsy would be forbidden; but Miss Sharlton, after laughing with the girls, said she thought Nettie would be a very harmless fortune-teller, and might do her best.

They were a very merry party as they started. They had not very far to walk, and many of them preferred to do so, though a few went in a carriage.

"There is a way over the hills and hollows which is shorter than. the way by the road," said Agnes Wright, the oldest girl.

"But perhaps it is difficult to find," said Miss Sharlton.

"Oh, no, Miss Sharlton-I know it quite well. Will you allow a few of us to go that way, and meet you at the entrance to the forest?"

"Yes, if you wish. Of course the others will be in your charge, Agnes ? "

“Oh, yes, thank you, Miss Sharlton. I will take care of

them."

The girls were rather glad of this permission. They loved their teachers, but they enjoyed a run, and they had it through the fields. They were tired of running, presently, and they walked along, singing as they went.

Shortly, however, the valorous Agnes saw a sight which greatly disconcerted her. It was only a company of mild-looking cows. But one glanced into the face of Agnes, and she thought it had some designs upon her. Instantly, with a scream, she turned back, and went flying across the field in the direction by which she had just come.

She had been a little in advance of the others, and they, seeing her alarm, although they could not understand the cause, turned and rushed after her, many of them screaming too.

"Stop!" said Ruth. "Let us see what is the matter before we run."

She saw the cows, and looking from them to the girls hurrying over the field like a flock of lapwings, she laughed so heartily that Mabel declared that she had never seen her so amused.

Ruth, Mabel, and two or three who had remained, went through

the field, and safely passed the inoffensive cows. They were the first to arrive at the forest. Agnes and her party came last, looking very much heated, and rather tired. Of course Agnes was teased a bit for her lack of courage; but the girls were too goodnatured to say much about it.

They had a very happy picnic, only that happened which so often does happen at such times. The white cloth was laid upon the grass in an open space, and numbers of good things were placed upon it. When the girls returned from a short ramble, they were invited to seat themselves. They had just done so, and were commencing their meal, when a few big, heavy drops fell upon them. Looking up they saw what they had been too busy to notice before-a large black cloud just over them!

In another minute it rained fast. All started up from their seats.

"Each take something and run under shelter," cried Miss Sharlton.

One caught up a loaf, another some butter, another a dish of ham, another a plate of cake, another a dish of preserve, another the tea-pot, and another the sugar basin. Everybody took something and ran away under the trees or to the carriage. It was great fun, and after the shower was over they had to take the meal standing.

The sun, however, soon dried the short grass, and although Miss Sharlton warned the girls not to sit upon it, they were allowed to have plenty of good games.

Nettie made a little fun. She foretold such curious things for the girls. Ruth was to be a sailor and Mabel a carpenter, and Agnes Wright's future occupation should be that of a milkmaid, she said. Altogether they had a happy holiday, and were sorry when it was time to leave.

The walk home by moonlight Mabel said was the best part of it all.

CHAPTER VI.-THE RESULT OF THE PICNIC.

The day after the holiday no one felt inclined to be very industrious.

"I am so tired and stiff that I should like to lie in bed," said Mabel.

But that of course could not be allowed, and she was obliged to rise when the others did. None of them were up very early; Miss Sharlton told them the night before that there need be no study before breakfast. But Mabel did not feel rested even at eight o'clock.

"I am disinclined to move; I am so tired," she said to Ruth.

"You will be better presently," said Ruth. "If we were to walk to-day the stiffness would go off perhaps."

All the girls complained more or less, but Mabel seemed the most tired of any. All day she was languid, and appeared to have neither strength nor energy.

Miss Sharlton proposed that they should have tea on the lawn, and the girls declared that it was almost as pleasant as the forest. But poor Mabel could not enjoy it; she could only sit and watch the others, while her own head and limbs ached so much as to prevent her from thinking of much beside.

"What is the matter with merry Mab? She has scarcely spoken during the whole tea-time," remarked one of the girls.

Miss Sharlton overheard it and looked at Mabel. She was hot and flushed, and was evidently ill at ease.

"I fear Mabel is not well," said Miss Sharlton.

Ruth had been fearing it all day; she had watched her friend with great concern, and had been wishing to speak to the governess about her. As soon as tea was over she said, "Mabel dear I am sure you are not feeling well. Would you not like to retire to your room? Let me speak to Miss Sharlton about you." "No, Ruth; how foolish you are. "Cold! Your hands are burning." "But I am shivering."

I am very well, only so cold."

"I think Miss Sharlton ought to know."

"If you tell her I shall be very angry with you."

There was no need to tell her; she had seen for herself, and as soon as tea was finished she came towards the girls.

"Mabel, you are not looking yourself; I fear you took cold yesterday at the picnic. You had better go to bed at once, and I will send you some simple remedies."

"Oh, thank you, Miss Sharlton; I am not ill."

But when Mabel arose her head was so dizzy that she could scarcely stand.

Ruth put her arm around her and helped her.

'May I assist Mabel upstairs, Miss Sharlton?

"Yes, if you please."

Ruth was very tender and loving towards her friend you may be sure, but Mabel scarcely noticed it; she was feeling so unwell. "I hope you will be better in the morning, Mabel darling." My head is very bad, Ruth; do not leave me."

Ruth was only too glad to stay as long as she might, and when at last she left Mabel had fallen into an uneasy sleep.

Ruth was very anxious.

"Do not be alarmed, Ruth," said Miss Sharlton, kindly; "I think it is only a cold, and that she will shortly be better."

But the next morning there was no improvement. Mabel's head was as hot and as full of pain as on the night before, and Miss Sharlton decided that the doctor must be sent for.

Ruth watched for him as he left.

"Is she very ill, sir?" she asked him.

"Yes, she is really ill, and it will take some time to cure her, I fear. Are you her sister?"

"No; I am her friend."

"Well, you need not be alarmed. I think she will get better, but not at present."

You must imagine what Ruth felt when she heard this.

The sickness of those who are dear to us is very hard to bear, and at first Ruth felt as if she could not bear it. But she was a Christian girl, and knew that her friend was not out of the reach of the Saviour. She remembered how, when He was on earth He healed those who were ill; and she knew that He was just as able to heal Mabel. So she asked Him. She told Him how much she loved her friend, and how she missed her, and how sad it was to think of her lying there so full of pain; and she besought the Lord that He would take pity upon them, and come and cure her.

But all that day Mabel grew worse instead of better, and the next day she was so seriously ill that the doctor said her mother must be sent for. Then there was another trouble for Mabel. A telegram was returned to say that Mrs. Hollys was herself too unwell to come, so the poor child had to endure her pain without the comfort of her mother's presence.

All the girls were sorry for Mabel.

"She is always so merry and good-tempered, and so kind to everybody, that the school does not seem the same without her," they said.

Ruth seldom spoke of her, but her face became so white with anxiety, and there was such a wistful look in her eyes, that the girls knew how she felt.

It was a busy time at school. The result of the examination depended upon the use the girls made of those weeks, so that, notwithstanding their anxiety upon Mabel's account, lessons had to be attended to as usual. Ruth, however, found it almost impossible to concentrate her attention upon them. At night she could not sleep for anxiety, but lay listening to any sound that might come from Mabel's room, and during the day her thoughts were cortinually wandering.

She had asked to be allowed to nurse Mabel, or at least to remain with her while she was so ill; but Miss Sharlton told her that could not be, and although quiet Ruth said no more about it, she longed greatly to be there.

"Ruth," said Miss Graysland one evening, "Mabel is very dear to you, I know, but your great anxiety is wearing you out, and cannot do her any good."

"I know it cannot, Miss Graysland, but I cannot help it."

"Your heart is not in your lessons as it used to be. I hope you will not disappoint us all at the examination."

"I feel as if I cannot care for success, Miss Graysland. Of course poor Mabel will not pass even if I should soon be better, and I do not want to leave her behind."

"That is not right, Ruth. It is not just to your mother. Whatever trouble we may have, it should not make us less earnest in the performance of our duty."

"I know it should not, Miss Graysland. I feel that I am not acting rightly."

"You pray for Mabel, I am sure. Try to leave her in the Lord's care. Do you think you love her better than He does?"

This talk was very beneficial to Ruth. It recalled her to a sense of duty, and helped to bring back patience and hope. In a few days she was working at her lessons as diligently as ever.

After a time she found that a very glad surprise awaited her.
Miss Sharlton called her out of school one morning.

'Ruth, Mabel is continually asking for you. She is better, although still very ill. You may go to her for a few minutes." Ruth could not express her joy and thankfulness.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she trembled so that she could scarcely walk. Miss Sharlton laid a warning hand upon her shoulder.

"Mabel must not be excited, Ruth."

"Dear Miss Sharlton, I will be very quiet."

Miss Sharlton looked at the earnest, lighted face, and kissed it. "I am not afraid to trust you, my dear child," she said. Nobody was ever afraid to trust Ruth Cameron who knew her. She was very pale when she entered the room, but though her heart sank at the change in Mabel she did not otherwise manifest her feelings.

She kissed her friend gently, and very tenderly pushed back the hair from the hot forehead. Ruth's hands were always cool, and Mabel smiled as they touched her.

"I am so glad you are come, Ruth,”

"I am so thankful that you are better, Mabel darling."

That was all that was said. Ruth was very quiet, but her presence seemed to soothe Mabel, who fell into a refreshing slumber. But when Miss Sharlton came and told Ruth it was time for her to leave, Mabel became excited and even began to cry.

"Please let her stay; it does me so much good to have her." "But it may do Ruth harm, my dear."