It was not, indeed,
till the next morning, when the other four boys came around to tell
Mrs. Hargate that they were indebted to Frank for their lives, that
she had any notion that he had been in danger.
Frank was quite oppressed by what he called the fuss which was
made over the affair. A thrilling description of it appeared in the
local papers. A subscription was got up in the school, and a gold
watch with an inscription was presented to him; and he received letters
of heart felt thanks from the parents of his four schoolfellows,
for Childers maintained that it was entirely to Frank's coolness
and thoughtfulness that his preservation was also due.
On the following Wednesday the school broke up. Frank had several
invitations from the boys to spend his holidays with them; but he
knew how lonely his mother would feel in his absence, and he declined
all the invitations. Mrs. Hargate was far from strong, and had had
several fits of fainting. These, however, had taken place at times
when Frank was at school, and she had strictly charged her little
servant to say nothing about it.
One day on returning from a long walk he saw the doctor's carriage
standing at the door.
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