Sisters Three | Page 6

trying to keep up. We had an awful
time getting him back. He meant to stay at the inn to-night, as his
people are away, and it was too dark to go on, but he looks precious
bad. Couldn't we put him up here?"
"Yes, yes, of course. Better carry him straight to bed and get off that
boot," said Mr Bertrand cordially. "It will be a painful job, and if we
can get it done before he comes round, so much the better. Here, you
boys, we'll carry him upstairs between us, and be careful not to trip as
you go. Someone bring up hot water, and bandages from the medicine
chest. I will doctor him myself. I have had a fair experience of sprained
ankles in my day, and don't need anyone to show me what to do."
The procession wended its way up the staircase, and for the greater part
of the evening father and brothers were alike invisible. Fomentations
and douches were carried on with gusto by Mr Bertrand, who was
never more happy than when he was playing the part of amateur
surgeon; then Miss Briggs had her innings, and carried a tray upstairs
laden with all the dainties the house could supply, after partaking of
which the invalid was so far recovered that he was glad of his friends'

company, and kept them laughing and chatting in his room until it was
time to go to bed.
The next morning the ankle was much better, but, at his host's
instigation, the young fellow despatched a note to his mother, telling
her not to expect him home for a few days, as Mr Bertrand wished him
to stay until he was better able to bear the long, hilly drive.
The girls discussed the situation as they settled down to finish the much
disliked mending in the afternoon. "It's very annoying," Hilary said. "I
do hope he won't be long in getting better. We were going to London
on Monday week, but if he is still here we shall have to wait, and I hate
having things postponed."
"I wish he had been a girl," said Norah, who came in for so much
teasing from her two brothers during the holidays that she did not
welcome the idea of having another boy in the house. "We could have
had such fun together, and perhaps she might have asked us to stay
with her some day. I should love to pay visits! I wonder if father will
take us up to London in turns, now that he has begun. I do hope he will,
for it would be great fun staying in Kensington. I remember Miss Carr
when we were in London; she was a funny old thing, but I liked her
awfully. She was often cross, but after she had scolded for about five
minutes, she used to repent, and give us apples. She will give you
apples, Hilary, if you are very good!"
Hilary screwed up her little nose with an expression of disdain. Apples
were not much of a treat to people who had an orchard at home, and
she had outgrown the age of childish joy at the gift of such trifles.
Before she could speak, however, the door burst open, and Raymond
precipitated himself into the room. He was a big, broad fellow of
sixteen, for he and Lettice were twins, though widely differing in
appearance. Raymond had a flat face, thickly speckled over with
freckles, reddish brown hair, and a pair of brown eyes which fairly
danced with mischief. It was safe to prophesy that in less than two
minutes from the time that he entered the room where his sisters were
sitting, they would all three be shrieking aloud in consternation, and the
present instance was no exception to the rule. It was very simply

managed. He passed one hand over the table where lay the socks and
stockings which had been paired by Hilary's industrious fingers, and
swept them, helter-skelter, on the floor. He nudged Norah's elbow, so
that the needle which she was threading went deep into her fingers, and
chucked Lettice under the chin, so that she bit her tongue with a
violence which was really painful. This done, he plunged both hands
into his pockets and danced a hornpipe on the hearthrug, while the girls
abused him at the pitch of their voices.
"Raymond Bertrand, you are the most horrid, ungentlemanly, nasty,
rude boy I ever knew!"
"If you were older you'd be ashamed of yourself. It is only because you
are a stupid, ignorant little schoolboy that you think it funny to be
unkind to girls."
"Very well, then! You have given me all my work to do over again;
now I won't make toffee this afternoon,