17 A WONDERFUL SURPRISE
THERE was a little light burning in the hall. The Head Mistress's rooms were in darkness. She wasevidently upstairs in the San. Darrell crept upstairs. There were bright lights everywhere, and a gooddeal of bustle¹. What was happening to poor Sally?
Darrell couldn't understand what was going on. Sally must be very ill to have so many peoplebothering about her like this in the middle of the night! Darrell's heart felt very heavy. She didn't dareto go any farther in case someone ' saw her. But she felt she must stay where she was. She j must getto know some thing! She couldn't possibly go back to bed without finding out what was happening. Ifonly, only she could help!
She sat down on a window-seat, and drew the heavy curtains round her, straining her ears to catch aword from any of the people bustling² about from one of the San. rooms to another. That was Matron'svoice—the matron of North Tower! And that was the other Matron's voice, very crisp and sharp,giving an order. And that was a man's voice.
Darrell held her breath and listened to the mysterious voices and noises, but she couldn't hear a word.
Oh, what would they all say if they knew that she, hot-tempered, wicked little Darrell was at thebottom of all this fuss and worry and bother? Darrell pulled the curtain round her head and wept greattears that soaked into the heavy silk.
She sat there for about half an hour. Then, quite suddenly, and without meaning to , she fell fastasleep ! Lost in the heavy curtains, she slept, tired out.
She did not know how long she slept. She awoke again later, hearing noises. She sat up, wonderingwhere in the wide world she was! Then she remembered. Of course—she was near the San. She hadcome to find out what was happening to Sally, j At once all the fear and anxiety closed round heronce again. She felt lonely and lost, and wanted her mother. She ! clutched the curtains round her asshe heard voices coming near. Was it doctors? Nurses? Perhaps the Head Mistress herself?
| And then Darrell's heart almost stopped beating! Some one was going by the window-seat where shesat, someone who spoke³ in a voice she knew and loved!
'She'll be all right,' said the voice. 'Just got her nicely in time! Now...'
i Darrell sat as if she was turned to stone, listening to that well-known voice! It couldn't be! Itcouldn't be! It couldn't be her own father's voice!
She suddenly found herself able to move. She thrust the curtains aside and looked between them. Shesaw her father walking along with the Matron, talking earnestly. Yes, it was, it really was her father.

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