house across the street," and she led the way.

He picked up the light burden as if it had been a feather. She opened
the door and asked him to take the child upstairs and lay her on the
couch.

"I am obliged to you," she said. "In a way I am in Settlement work.
We'll have a doctor and see what is the matter. Then I'll decide about
the hospital. And I will find out about those people."

"You're a good sort, ma'am," and he touched his hat brim to her.

"Jane," she called. "This poor child isn't exactly in a faint, but
something is the matter. Get a warm bath ready and we'll put her in.
I'll telephone to Dr. Richards."

"Yes--he was just going out. Would be up for a first call."

Miss Armitage undressed her. She was clean and neat, but the poor
little body was painfully thin. Then they carried her to the bath.
Jane rubbed her softly and she gave some responsive sighs.

"What a pretty lot of little curls and fine as silk. I do wonder who
she can be?"

"She's the little nurse girl who brings those babies, twins I suppose
they are, and sits on the stoop over opposite."

"What happened?"

"Well it's some sort of a collapse. Now I'll find a nice nightgown,
and we'll see what the doctor says."

Marilla opened her eyes. They were a sort of blueish gray, but now
very heavy and dull. Her lips moved, but the tone was very low. It
sounded as if she said "fairy godmother" and Miss Armitage smiled.

"Oh, poor little thing!"

Dr. Richards flew around in his auto.

"Oh, I thought something had happened to you," he began.

"It has," and she detailed the simple story.

He followed her up to the room. It was such a lovely, restful room. A
white bed in the alcove, white window drapery, a carpet with
considerable light blue in it, a dressing case, a writing desk, some
books and pictures, mostly Madonnas.

"Poor child," he said. "She's been worked too hard. All her strength
seems gone. And a case of heat prostration. It's been an awful day.
Who is she?"

Miss Armitage told over the incident. "I have seen her sitting there
several times. It is shady in the afternoon."

"Two fat babies," and he laughed. "I should think one would be enough
for such a child to manage. Overwork and underfeeding I think, and the
heat. I'll see if I can rouse her."

Marilla opened her eyes and the lids seemed to fall from absolute
weariness. The lips moved but made no sound.

"It is a kind of comatose state. Not knowing all that is back of