ness like a vast
army of fireflies. "Without it, what is life to the smallest--moth!"

VI

ZURA WINGATE'S VISIT

These were the days I kept an eagle eye on Jane Gray. She grew steadily
stronger and her activities resembled a hive of bees. Unless she was
carefully observed and brought to order, her allowance of milk and part
of her food went to some child or stray beggar, waiting outside the
lodge gates.

She talked incessantly and confidently of the hospital she intended to
build in the Quarters. She had not a sen and I had less.

With the grocery bill unpaid, her cheerful assurance sometimes provoked
me. "Goodness, Jane, you haven't enough to buy even one shingle for a
hospital! To hear you talk one would think the National Bank was at your
command."

"But, Miss Jenkins," she said, smiling, "we are not going to use
shingles for the roof, but straw; and I have something stronger than a
national bank. You see, I was just born hoping. I know some of the
sweetest people at home. I've written nearly one thousand letters,
telling them all about my dear friends in the Quarters."

So that's where all the stamps went that she bought with the money I
gave her for winter clothes!

I was taking Jane to task for this when a note arrived from Zura. I had
been almost sure that my invitation would meet the same fate as the
English lessons. My fears disappeared when I opened the missive. It read
as follows:

Dear Miss Jenkins:
Thank you. Never did like to study in vacation, but if it is
plain visiting I'll be delighted, for I'm starving. Have lived
so long on rice and raw fish I feel like an Irish stew. You'll
surely be shocked at what I can do to ham and eggs and hot
biscuit! I'll float in about Thursday.

Hungrily yours,
ZURA WINGATE.

When I told my companion that Zura was coming to make us a little visit,
she was preparing to start for her work. She had just tied a bright
green veil over her hat. Failing in its mission as trimming, the chiffon
dropped forward in reckless folds almost covering her face; it gave her
a dissipated look as she hurried about, gathering up her things, eager
to be gone. But I was seeking information and detained her. "Jane," I
asked, "what do young girls in our country like best?"

"Boys and tolu," was the astonishing reply.

The twinkle in her one visible eye incre