e, and she had entirely forgotten her. Now she
was all interest again, and said, "Oh, yes; I remember now, Poor girl! I
did send her a hat and some slippers, which I hated because I wore them
when I sang. Did they fit her?"

"Lord Harry! How do I know? It isn't likely your shoes would fit her.
They would be a mile too small!" the Colonel said, and Amy asked, "Does
she want anything?"

"No," the Colonel replied. "Somebody has sent her flowers and chairs and
books and things. She thought it was you and wished to thank you."

"It was not I, and I am sorry I forgot her," Amy rejoined, as she turned
to leave him, with a confused feeling in her brain, and a pang of regret
that she had perhaps neglected the little girl at Mrs. Biggs's.

Once the Colonel thought to call her back and give her the note. Then,
thinking it did not matter, he let her go without it. Just what
influence was at work in Amy's mind that morning it were difficult to
tell. Whatever it was, it prompted her on her return to her room to take
the little red cloak from the closet where it was kept and examine it
carefully. It had been the best of its kind when it was bought, and,
though somewhat faded and worn, had withstood the ravages of time
wonderfully. It had encircled her like a friend, both when she was sad
and when she was gay. It had been wrapped around the Baby, of whom she
never thought without a pang and a blur before her eyes. It was the
dearest article she had in her wardrobe, and because of that and because
she had been so forgetful, she would send it to Eliza Ann Smith!

"But not for good," she said to Sarah, who was commissioned to take it
to Eloise the next morning. "She can keep it till she is well. Somebody
told me she had a sprained ankle. I had one once, and I put it across my
lap and foot, it was so soft and warm. Tell her I am sorry I forgot
about her. I am not always quite myself."

* * * * *

"Sent that old red cloak she's had ever since she was knee high! I
shouldn't s'pose there'd be a rag of it left! She must be crazy as a
loon to-day," was Mrs. Biggs's comment, when Sarah told her errand.
"What possessed her?"

Sarah only knew that her mistress was more dazed than usual that
morning, and had insisted upon her bringing the cloak.

"I think it rattled her when the chairs came back. She didn't know
anything about 'em, nor the Colonel either," Sarah said.

Mrs. Biggs laughed, and replied, "I di