ed for a peep. The nurse was not
in sight. A few of the children were gathered at the windows with
books and pictures; several were on the floor playing quiet games.
So softly did she step that nobody knew she was there until she
was well in the room. The, spying both her and the kitten, there
was a shout and a rush.

"No, you can't have her yet!" cried Polly, as small hands were
outstretched to lift the now uneasy burden from her arms. "Brida
has first right, because it's her kitten."

"Oh, Popover!" squealed the little owner delightedly, snuggling
the furry creature to her cheek.

"Where's Miss Lucy?" demanded Polly, waiving the children's
eager questions.

"Oh, they sent to have her come somewhere!" answered Ethel
Jones. "She went in an awful hurry, and said prob'ly she'd be
back pretty soon; but she has n't come yet."

"She let Leonora be monitor," put in Elsie Meyer. "I guess she'd
'a' let me, if I'd been up."

"I wish she would come," said Polly anxiously, "for I want to
surprise her with Popover--it's Miss Lucy's birthday, you
know."

"Somebody's coming now," and Cornelius O'Shaughnessy bent his
head to listen. "'T ain't her step," he decided disappointedly,
and the next moment the tall form of Miss Hortensia Price was seen
in the doorway.

"Quick! Keep her out o' sight!" whispered Polly, pushing
Popover's little black head down under the sheet.

The stately young woman walked the length of the room without a
word, and calmly sat down at the small table where Miss Lucy was
accustomed to prepare her medicines and to make such notes as were
needful.

As Miss Price took up the little memorandum book and began to look
it over, Polly's heart almost stood still with consternation. She
had come to stay! Polly knew the signs. Such sudden shifts were
common enough in the hospital, but only twice, during Polly's
stay, had the occurred in the convalescent ward, and Miss Lucy had
been in charge for so long now that she had ceased giving herself
any worry over a possible change.

For a moment the little girl stood hesitant; then the sight of
Brida, white and scared on her pillow, roused her to quick
thought. If she could only smuggle Popover down into Dr Dudley's
office before she was discovered! Instinct told her that "High
Price" would never tolerate a kitten in the ward. She took one
step forward.

"Me-ew!" sounded faintly from Brida's cot.

The nurse raised her head, listened inquiringly, and