," Violet said, with some show of
spirit.

"Well, maybe Mrs. Mencke wouldn't object; you can ask her when she
comes," said the nurse, doubtfully.

"I shall do no such thing, and I am going to see Mr. Richardson!"
retorted Violet, wilfully, and flushing hotly. "The idea of her
objecting, when he saved my life, and when dear Mrs. Richardson has been
so kind! They would think me very ungrateful not to tell them how very,
very thankful I am."

"But Mrs. Mencke said----" began the nurse, objectingly, for Violet's
sister had given very strict orders upon this very point.

"I don't care what Belle said--Belle is too fresh sometimes!" Violet
cried, spiritedly, and relapsing a trifle into slang, in her irritation
over her sister's interference.

The nurse changed the subject, and nothing more was said about the
matter.

Three days later Violet was allowed to get up for the first time, and
after that she sat up every day.

One morning she seemed to feel much stronger than usual, and the nurse
allowed her to be regularly dressed in a pretty pale-blue cashmere
wrapper, which Mrs. Mencke had sent the previous day; then she drew her
chair beside one of the windows, where she could look out upon the
street.

She seemed very bright, and told the woman that she began to feel quite
like herself again. She certainly looked very pretty, though somewhat
pale and thin, showing that she had lost a little flesh during her
illness.

"Now, nurse," Violet said, when the woman had tidied up the room, and
there seemed to be nothing more to be done just then, "don't you want to
go out and get the air for a little while? You have not been out once
since you came, and I am so well and comfortable to-day, you might go
just as well as not."

"Thank you, miss; it would be a pleasant change," the woman returned,
with a longing look out of the window.

"Then go, by all means, Mrs. Dean," Violet said, eagerly, "and stay an
hour if you like. I know Mrs. Richardson would wait upon me if I should
need anything, which I am sure I shall not," she concluded, with a
furtive glance toward the sitting-room, where, during the last
half-hour, she had heard, now and then, the rattle of a newspaper, and
surmised that her young hero was engaged in perusing the morning news
there.

The temptation proved too strong to be resisted, and Mrs. Dean, taking
Violet at her word, yielded, and soon after went forth into the glorious
sunshine, to enjoy the privileg