it all. She was a wonderful child's nurse an' there'll
be trouble enough without her. But the babies went to bed early an'
then she'd come down an' wipe the dishes for me an' they made no call
on her. But Jack was a holy terror, he was that bad, but he went to
school in the spring. If he was mine I'd skin him alive. But it was
hard dragging them fat, heavy things around. Will you tell me just how
you come to find her? They've missed her so. They screech enough to
raise the dead, an' I know it's for her."

Miss Armitage told the incident over.

"The saints bless and protect you ma'am for not lettin' her be sent to
a hospital! But do you think she _can_ get well? And if that other
maid suits, couldn't you keep her here all summer and let her get good
and strong? I'm going out to my cousin at Fairfield to stay until next
Monday. The boss will be down with his folks until then, and all the
vallerbles have been sent out of the house so we can leave it alone.
And when I come back we may have a plan for the poor dear that isn't
baby tendin'. O the little darlin'! Don't let her die, ma'am, she's so
nice and sweet!"

She caught the little hand and kissed it, and winked away the tears
that glistened in her eyes.

"I'll do my best, you may be sure. And when you come back, I shall be
glad to have a call from you. And by that time she may know us all.
Thank you for your sympathy."

Bridget nodded and turned away. Miss Armitage studied the little girl
with a new interest. She had seen beautiful children among the very
poor, in the slums, with no ancestry back of them. There was something
about this child--not beauty either, that set one to thinking. She
must learn something about her.

And then she smiled over the fancy of being Cinderella and dancing
with the Prince at the ball. What a happy dream it must have been for
the child! She was glad to hear that she had not been badly treated or
ill fed. She could trust the kindly Bridget for that.

When the doctor came in Sunday morning a smile lighted up his face.

"A real improvement," he exclaimed. "No fever and a normal
temperature. Pulse stronger. Now, with nourishing diet and some salt
in the baths we shall have her about again, though I've had several
patients lie weeks in this state in the hot weather."

Marilla glanced up and smiled back.

"Why, I feel all well," she began. "Couldn't I get up."

"Yes," said Miss Armitage. "Jane will you bring that small pink kimona