the full length of Mrs. Donovan's
spine as she remembered that experience. If she had had any hope of
remaining in the cozy basement flat and keeping Mary Rose, it vanished
at the sight of that scowling face. Mr. Wells would surely insist on
having Larry discharged. She just knew he would.

Even Mary Rose's staunch and friendly soul was a bit daunted by Mr.
Wells' very unfriendly appearance but she tried to speak to him as
usual.

"Good morning, sir."

He looked down at her and his shaggy brows drew nearer together. Mary
Rose had thought he could not look crosser but he managed to look
considerably crosser as he grunted: "So you're back?" It almost
sounded as if he wished she hadn't come back.

She blushed. "Did you hear that I was lost? I was so ashamed. I
thought I could find my way anywhere in Waloo just as I could in
Mifflin. But you couldn't get lost in Mifflin, no matter how hard you
tried. You'd be sure to find yourself in the cemetery or at the post
office or the lumber yard." She looked up at the cross face and
ventured a smile. "You'll be glad to hear that I've found Jenny Lind,"
she said joyfully. "I knew all the time you hadn't borrowed her and I
guess now other people will be sorry they thought you stole her." She
laughed and nodded to let him see how very glad she was that his
innocence was proved.

Mr. Wells was too amazed to add anything to his scowl. "You've found
your bird?" he asked stupidly.

"Yes, I have. I'll tell you all about it. Are you going my way?
Usually I go up the other street, that's the shortest, but today I'm
going over this way to meet Anna Paulovitch and walk with her so the
boys won't tease her." And she told him about Anna Paulovitch and her
yellow curls which had led to the discovery of Jenny Lind. "And I'm
going to buy Becky a bird of her own with the money I've earned,
because I don't have to pay a cent of board for George Washington.
He's self-supporting, you know. Isn't it wonderful to be
self-supporting? Mrs. Paulovitch has seven children and only one of
them can earn anything. He's Mickey and he sells papers after school.
If I were a gentleman and bought papers I'd always buy them of Mickey,"
she hinted delicately. "The other Paulovitches who are over six have
to go to school. It takes a lot of washing to make bread enough for
them but Mr. Strahan thinks he has found friends to help Anna. Aren't
you glad you were born in America instead of Rus