Her complexion had never seemed so fair, so flawless as now. How lovely
she was! Looking at her Bee felt all the bitterness of her feeling
toward her melt from her heart.

"No;" she said, leaning forward suddenly to kiss her. "You must not go,
Adele. I shouldn't want you to be anything but pretty, but I haven't any
beauty to lose. Father charged me particularly with the duty, so I'll do
it, Adele. You can go back and tell him truly that she has the basket."

[Illustration: "I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU ANYTHING BUT PRETTY."]

"But what will you do after you give it to her?" cried Adele. "You
musn't come back to the house, Bee. You might bring the small pox to
me."

"And to father," spoke Bee perplexed. Then she brightened. "Adele, do
you know the old fishermen's hut near the river?"

"Yes."

"Go home; get a pillow and some covers; then fix up something for me to
eat as we did for Rachel. When I get through here I'll go there to stay.
If I have the small pox neither you nor father can take it then."

"But, but," protested Adele.

"Do just as I tell you, Adele. That's the only way to manage it. Hurry
up, so you will be away from the hut before I come. Will you be quick?"

"Yes;" promised Adele.

"Good-bye!" Bee kissed her again. "If, if I should take the small pox
you'll be good to father, Adele?"

"Yes, yes," sobbed Adele.

"Good-bye," said Bee again, and turning went quickly toward the cabin.

Adele watched her as if fascinated; and then, as Bee opened the door and
went in, she turned and ran away as fast as her legs could carry her.

Chapter XXIII

"The Greatest of These Is Charity"

"'Tis a little thing
To give a cup of water; yet its draught
Of cool refreshment, drained by fevered lips,
May give a shock of pleasure to the frame
More exquisite than when nectarean juice
Renews the life of joy that in happiest hours abound."

--_Thomas Noon._

When Bee left Adele and went into the cabin of old Rachel she seemed
calm and collected. In reality she was very much frightened. Fearful of
what she might see involuntarily she closed her eyes as she shut the
door behind her, and stood so for a few moments. Presently overcoming
her dread she opened them and glanced around.

The room was in semi-darkness, its one window being closed tightly. The
atmosphere was hot and stifling, and permeated by a peculiar sickening
odor. With an exclamation she threw wide th