ool teacher. "She is my friend and the
matron of the hospital where Miss Pepperill went with us one day."

"When she carried _my_ flowers and gave some to the children," muttered
Dot, who had never gotten over that.

"I'm glad to see you, Mrs. Eland," said Miss Lippit. "I do not know why
Miss Pepperill calls for you so much. She is a singularly friendless
woman."

"I thought she had always lived in Milton?" said the matron, in an
inquiring way.

"Oh, no, ma'am. She lived in the town I came from. We children always
thought she was Mr. and Mrs. Pepperill's granddaughter; but it seemed
not. She was picked up by them wandering about in Liston after the big
fire."

Mrs. Eland repeated the name of the Western city, holding hard to a
chairback the while, and watching Miss Lippit hungrily.

"Yes, ma'am," said the landlady. "We learned all about it. Miss
Pepperill was so small she didn't know her own name--only 'Teeny.'"

"'Teeny'!" repeated Mrs. Eland, pale to her lips.

"She had a sister. She remembered her quite plainly. Marion. When Miss
Pepperill was younger she was always expecting to meet that sister
somewhere. But I haven't heard her say anything about it of late years."

"Show--show me where the poor thing lies," murmured Mrs. Eland.

They went into the bedroom. Miss Pepperill, her head looking very
strange indeed with nothing but bandages upon it, sat up suddenly in
bed.

"Mrs. Eland! isn't it?" she said weakly. "Pleased to meet you. You are
little Tess Kenway's friend. Tell me!" she cried, clasping her hands,
"did you find your sister, Mrs. Eland?"

The matron ran with streaming eyes to the bed and folded the poor,
pain-racked body in her arms. "Yes, yes!" she sobbed. "I've found her!
I've found her!"

The two smallest Corner House girls did not see this meeting; but they
brought home the report from Miss Lippit that Mrs. Eland was going to
make arrangements to stay all night with Miss Pepperill, and perhaps
longer. Her work at the hospital would have to be neglected for a time.

These busy days, however, the young folk were neglecting nothing which
was connected with the forthcoming benefit for the Women's and
Children's Hospital. _The Carnation Countess_ was _not_ to be a failure.

The changes made in the assignment of the speaking parts caused some
little heartburnings; but the director was determined in the matter.
First of all he brought Mr. Marks to his way of thinking.

"I won't give the pla