hinking of your coming back."

Jack had gone down town with his mother to get some sandals and
slippers. She was very glad, for sometimes his talking almost set her
crazy, and she really was afraid to be impatient with him.

She had found a beautiful quiet street with great trees that fairly
met in the middle of it. Many of the families were away. She sat on
one special stoop where the house was all shut up tight. There were no
children in the street.

It seemed this day, Thursday, as if she would never get there. The
babies were so heavy. She sat down on the second step, leaning against
the stone column and pushed the carriage to and fro. Curious shadows
went dancing before her eyes, sometimes she could not see at all. And
she was so sleepy!

Pansy threw her rattle out and cried for it. Marilla stepped down to
pick it up and fell on the sidewalk. What was the matter with her
legs? they seemed to have lost their strength. She crawled up again.
All the world, the trees and houses went flying round and all was
dark. She was falling down--down--Poor little Cinderella!

The babies missed the soft soothing voice. They cried louder and
louder, then howled. Some children came to see what was the matter two
quite big boys among them. The policeman looked down from the corner
and paced with his slow tread.

"What's the row here?" he asked.

A lady came down one of the stoops on the opposite side of the street;
a rather tall, slim woman in a soft gray dress and hat with violets
around the crown. She crossed over. The policeman had taken the girl
by the shoulder and given her a rough shake.

"Those children howl enough to wake the dead, and she's asleep here."

But as he partly raised her Miss Armitage saw that her face was deadly
white.

"Oh, poor child!" she cried. "What can be the matter? And whose babies
are these?"

"They're Jack Borden's little sisters--twins. And thats the nuss gal,"
said one of the big boys.

"Do you know where they live?"

"Round in Arch street."

"Could you take them there?"

"Well--yes'm."

"Then take them," rejoined the lady.

The carriage being moved she sat down on the step and took the girl in
her arms.

"She isn't dead--I see the flutter in the temple."

"Better go to the hospital," proposed the policeman.

Marilla opened her eyes and glanced up but did not seem to notice
anything; then the lids fell and the beautiful long lashes shadowed
her cheeks.

"Carry her to my