to the drug store?
Isn't it lonely for you all by yourself? I was going to ask Aunt Kate
to make you some beef tea but perhaps you'd rather have Jenny Lind stay
with you. She's splendid company and I'd be glad to loan her to you."
She crossed the room to put the cage down beside Mr. Wells. Jenny Lind
began to sing immediately as if to show Mr. Wells what splendid company
she could be.

Mr. Wells raised himself on his elbow and shook a threatening fist at
the canary.

"Take that damn bird away!" he shouted. His face was red and Mary Rose
was sure she could see flames darting from his eyes.

"Yes, sir! Yes, sir!" She snatched Jenny Lind at once. "I s-suppose
she is too noisy for you yet. Mrs. Mason didn't like her when she had
the nerves. But you shouldn't be alone. It's bad for you. I'm sure
you need friendly company. Oh, I know the very thing!" And before the
astonished and indignant invalid could say a word she had dashed out of
the room.

He could hear her stumble in the hall but he did not hear her exclaim
hurriedly when a door across the way opened: "Oh, Mrs. Rawson, will you
take Jenny Lind for a minute? I'll be right back for her." She pushed
the hook of the cage into the hands of the startled Mrs. Rawson and
flew down the stairs.

She was back in an incredibly short time with a small glass globe that
she carried very carefully. Her face shone as she tiptoed in and
placed it on the table beside the invalid.

"There!" she said proudly. "There! The perfect pets for the sickroom.
When you said Jenny Lind was too disturbing I remembered that Mr.
Jerry's Aunt Mary had these two little goldfish. Wasn't it lucky? She
was glad to loan them to you and hopes you'll find them pleasant
friends. They won't be any care at all. I'll come up every day and
feed them if you don't feel well enough. I'd like to. Aren't they
beautiful? Do you suppose all the fish in Heaven are like that, all
gold and glisteny? Won't you just love to watch them? They can't sing
or make any noise to annoy you. They'll be splendid company."

"God bless my soul!" murmured Mr. Wells helplessly, when he could find
breath to murmur anything. He stared at her as if he really had never
seen her before.

An exclamation, like the pop of a gun, made them look at the doorway
where Sako was staring at them as if he could not believe his eyes.

"Sako!" shouted Mr. Wells, angrily. "Why did you leave the door open
when you wen