wanted to beg every one who came caring for her so tenderly to
forgive her, but the nurse simply would not let her say a word. No one
was allowed to stay with her for more than five minutes and then _they_
did all the talking.

This did not go on long, of course. Came a day when the nurse smilingly
helped her into a big lounging chair and stood by looking on while a
hairdresser straightened and trimmed the haggled locks into a perfectly
docked hair cut. A bang almost covered the plasters on her temple and
when the task was completed, Rosanna felt very dressed up indeed.

That afternoon she saw Uncle Robert--a jolly, affectionate Uncle Robert
who came to tell her a great piece of news. He had adopted a French
orphan, a lovely little girl belonging to a family that had been wiped
out in the war.

"She made me remember that I had a little niece over here," said Uncle
Robert. "I used to tell her about you, and I know you will enjoy knowing
her."

"Isn't she coming here to live?" asked Rosanna hopefully.

"I don't know yet," said Uncle Robert, frowning. "You see I have not
told a soul yet excepting yourself. I don't know how that would strike
mother. It seems to me that it would give her a good deal of care. Two
girls to bring up, you know. Your Uncle Robert tackled a big problem
when he adopted an orphan, don't you think so, Rosanna?"

"I don't think so," said Rosanna, smiling. "Orphans are real easy to
keep, Uncle Robert. You see there are not many bad ones like me."

"I won't have you say that!" said Uncle Robert, giving the hand he was
holding a little shake. "I think you are a real easy orphan: easy to get
along with and easy to look at and easy to keep. I hope mine will be
half so good, and I hope I will love her a quarter as well as I do my
niece Rosanna."

"Oh, thank you, Uncle Robert!" sighed Rosanna. "I am so glad you are
home. I had forgotten how nice you are."

Uncle Robert rose. "We have said so many nice things to each other that
I feel all good and happy inside," he laughed. "And before something
happens to make me feel otherwise, here goes your little Uncle Bobby
downstairs to talk the thing over with mother. She is in the library
with Mrs. Hargrave. The fact is, Rosanna, I was so glad to be at home
again and so busy with one thing and another, that I forgot all about
Elise. That's her name; Elise. This morning I had a letter from the Red
Cross people, and they expect to come over in a couple of we