"No, I haven't. That's why I came over."

She shut the door and made him sit down.

"I guess I'll have to go to the poorhouse after all," she began in
a hushed voice, as if fearful of being overheard.

"Oh, I wouldn't give up! Mr. Randolph said it would take time."

"But I can't wait! The woman thought I was going, and she's rented
my room, and she won't let me stay another night! I haven't quite
enough money to pay up, and she says she shall keep my trunk and
furniture--oh, to think I have come to this!"

The little woman's distress was agonizing to Doodles.

"Now, don't you worry!" he pleaded. "You are coming straight home
with me to stay at our house over Sunday, and next week we shall
probably hear."

"No, no!--your mother--your mother won't want me!" she sobbed. "I
can't go to make her all that trouble!"

"'T won't be a bit of trouble!" he insisted. "She will like to
have you come! We all will! We'd better go right away, too. Is
your trunk packed?"

"Pretty much; there are a few little things to put in." She found
herself yielding to the stronger will of the boy. Going to the
closet, she brought out some articles of clothing which she began
to fold.

"Is all the furniture yours?" Doodles asked, looking around on the
meager array.

She shook her head. "Only the rocking-chair and the couch and that
little chair you're in and the oil heater and the pictures--" She
ran her troubled eyes over the things enumerated, as if fearing to
forget some of her few remaining possessions. "Oh, yes! there's my
bookshelf! I mustn't leave that."

"Suppose I make a list of them," suggested Doodles. "I think maybe
we'd better have them taken over to our house--Blue can come this
afternoon and see about it. Blue's my brother, you know."

"But Mrs. Gugerty won't let me have them!"

"She will if you pay up."

"Yes, but I can't! I gave her the last cent I had!" Her voice
quivered.

Doodles took out his purse and counted over his change.

"No, you're not going to pay it!" she cried. "I shan't let you!"

"I'm afraid I haven't enough," smiled the lad ruefully--"only
sixty-seven cents."

"I owe a dollar and a quarter," she admitted.

"Blue can pay it when he comes for the things," returned the boy,
dismissing with a careless "That's nothing!" the little woman's
protest.

Miss Lily looked around for the last time with a cheerful smile.

"Somehow I can't feel as bad to go home with you as I kno