Susan's back was turned to
the pair. The expression of Willie's face changed from vacancy to
fear, and he came shambling up to Susan, who put her arm round him,
and, as if protected by that shelter, he began making faces at
Michael. Susan saw what was going on, and, as if now first struck by
the strangeness of her brother's manner, she looked anxiously at
Michael for an explanation. Michael was irritated at Willie's
defiance of him, and did not mince the matter.
"It's just that the fever has left him silly--he never was as wise as
other folk, and now I doubt if he will ever get right."
Susan did not speak, but she went very pale, and her lip quivered.
She looked long and wistfully at Willie's face, as he watched the
motion of the ducks in the great stable-pool. He laughed softly to
himself every now and then.
"Willie likes to see the ducks go overhead," said Susan,
instinctively adopting the form of speech she would have used to a
young child.
"Willie, boo! Willie, boo!" he replied, clapping his hands, and
avoiding her eye.
"Speak properly, Willie," said Susan, making a strong effort at self-
control, and trying to arrest his attention.
"You know who I am--tell me my name!" She grasped his arm almost
painfully tight to make him attend.
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