y longer," said Betty determinedly.
"We came here to cheer people up, you know, and how we're going to do it
by being doleful ourselves, I don't know. So, in the words of the
vulgar--'here goes.' How's that?"

"That" was a rather forced and pitiful little smile, but it brought an
answering one from Amy and another warm hug.

"You're just wonderful, Betty!" she said lovingly, "and we'll do just
whatever you say. If you want us to smile, we'll smile, that's all. Of
course, we have tried, but we'll try still harder."

Betty hugged back, and they went up the stairs toward the old familiar
room, feeling better and more cheerful for their renewed good resolutions.

For a while the girls were busy unpacking the books and putting them in
place. Then Betty announced her intention of calling on Mrs. Sanderson.

"I can't bear to think of her in there by the window all alone," she said.
"It has been awfully hard for her to watch all those boys going away,
knowing that her Willie wasn't among them. I might be able to comfort her
a little."

"Let me go too," begged Amy, and arm in arm the two girls went on their
little mission of kindness.

They knocked on the door, but, receiving no answer, pushed it open and
stepped inside the room. The old lady was sitting in exactly the same
position as when Betty had seen her from the car, almost an hour before.

She glanced up, a little startled when they spoke to her, and half rose to
her feet. She looked dazed and very old and drawn. With a little cry of
compassion, Betty ran over to her and gently forced her back into her
chair.

"Did we startle you?" she asked anxiously. "We knocked, but you didn't
answer, and we came right in. I'm sorry--"

"You needn't be, dearie." The old eyes twinkled and the old hand was very
gentle as it patted Betty's cheek reassuringly. "I'm always glad to see
you and I've told you to come right in any time. I was thinking very hard,
I guess, and that's why I didn't hear you."

"Then we may stay a little while?" said Betty, relieved. "But please tell
us if we'll be a bother," she added hastily, as the old woman turned once
more to the window.

"No, no, I was hoping you would come," said the latter so eagerly that
Betty knew her impulse had been a correct one. The old woman had wanted
some one--some one who understood--to pour out her heart to.

"It was wonderful just to sit here and watch those boys who went, an' I've
been thinkin' of it," she said, a