whole soul with dismay, rooting her like a little frozen
thing to the spot. It was Miss Sylvia, she knew.

With one mighty effort she tore herself from the spot, and rushed
headlong into the hall. "Oh--oh--OH!" came from the invalid's room.

At that Viny wrung her hands and writhed in dire distress.

"She's a-dyin'!" she gasped, her knees knocking together in a lively
manner; "I don't darst to look--I don't!--I've killed her!" And the
whole flood of remorse sweeping her very soul, she turned and scuttled
down the crooked little stairs and into the street.

"A doctor!" was all her thought. She remembered hearing Caryl say he
lived in a big brown house that had lots of flowers in the windows. But
where upon the face of the earth the house was situated, Viny knew no
more than a bird. However, she must get him, so she dashed blindly on,
turning the first corner to run headlong into the arms of a portly old
lady who was placidly enjoying the fresh air and sunshine at the same
time that she displayed her rich street attire.

"Oh, my goodness!" cried the old lady, startled out of all fine speeches
by the collision, and jumping in fright to the extreme edge of the
curbstone. Then seeing the cause, she cried in anger, "You miserable,
dirty little thing you, you ve nearly killed me!"

At the word "killed," Viny began to dance in terror on the sidewalk. "I
know it," she cried, "oh, dear, I know it! she's dead, an' grandma 'll
beat me."

"And if you don't know any better," cried the old lady, vainly trying to
settle her gray puffs as they were before, "than to run into people in
this way, I'll have you arrested, I will!"

At this Viny was completely overcome. Her guilty conscience pictured all
sorts of punishments; worse, far worse, than "grandma's" judgments, and,
falling on her knees, she grasped the old lady's black satin gown and
implored for mercy.

The old lady, now her attention was drawn off from her own annoyance,
settled her eyes on the brooch half concealed by a fold of the little
lace spenser.

"You wicked, bad child!" she exclaimed, seizing her arm and pouncing one
stiffly gloved hand on the sparkling brooch; "you've stolen that! It's
bad enough to be run into by a dirty little thing fresh from Bedlam,
without being wicked into the bargain. That's TOO much!"

The little black figure being too wretched to hear this tirade, could
only mumble and wail and wriggle closer and closer into the folds of the
rich g