he child and really desired her.

"The babies, you know, are so fond of me, and they are all very good.
So I wouldn't have any reason for not staying with them. And it will
be only five years more, then I shall be eighteen. And I thought--"
flushing daintily, "that maybe Jane might marry, and you would want
some one in her place and if it was--me," rather tremulously--"I could
come--I love you so. I'd be your Cinderella always. And when I go back
it will be like the King's ball--I shall keep thinking how lovely it
was for you to bring me here instead of sending me to a hospital, and
it will comfort me just as the music did."

Miss Armitage bent over and kissed her but there were tears in her
eyes. She was touched with the child's reasoning that was so like
heroism.

"Yes, dear," she said. "We will think of it that way. And if you
should be ill at any time, I will have you brought here, and you shall
stop when you take the babies out and let me see them, and rest a
little."

"Oh that will be just lovely. You are so good," and she kissed the
white hand lying on her shoulder.

Then Jane came in and she had her bath. How delightful it was to be
rubbed so carefully, to have her curly mop brushed.

"I ought to dress myself now. Why I'm not sick at all only I get tired
easily, but I am stronger every day."

The breakfast was so nice. And to be waited upon! Marilla gave an
inward laugh of delight.

And while Miss Armitage was at church, Dr. Richards came and bundled
her up, carried her downstairs and deposited her in the buggy. He was
very merry, somehow. He was going out in the country and, oh, how
beautiful everything was! There had been a shower in the night and the
air was full of fragrance from the grass, the pines and cedars, the
orchards, wild flowers, and newly cut hay, that had not all been
gathered in. Children ran about or swung in hammocks. Hens were fairly
shouting with no regard for Sunday. Birds were caroling all sorts of
joyous tunes and the tree twigs were gaily dancing. And here and there
such beautiful drifts went over the sky, ships, she called them. They
were going to fairy land--something that was not quite heaven, but a
lovely place for all that. There must be so many lovely places in
this great world! Over the ocean where Miss Armitage had been, and she
recalled the castles and palaces and beautiful woods, and peasants
dancing on the green and laughing; that she had seen in the portfolio
of en