ed so very sad. Yes, that must be it. Then
her face brightened as she felt the bulky album under her arm. Here was
something that would make Miss Arbuckle smile, at least.

Billie spoke softly and was taken aback at the suddenness with which Miss
Arbuckle turned upon her, regarding her with startled eyes.

For a moment teacher and pupil regarded each other. Then slowly a
pitiful, crooked smile twitched Miss Arbuckle's lips and her hand reached
out gropingly for the back of a chair.

"Oh, it's--it's you," she stammered, adding with an apologetic smile that
made her look more natural: "I'm a little nervous to-day--a little upset.
What is it, Billie? Why didn't you knock?" The last words were said in
Miss Arbuckle's calm, slightly dry voice, and Billie began to feel more
natural herself. She had been frightened when Miss Arbuckle swung around
upon her.

"I did," she answered. "Knock, I mean. But you didn't hear me. I found
something of yours, Miss Arbuckle." Her eyes fell to the volume she still
carried under her arm, and Miss Arbuckle, following the direction of her
gaze, recognized her album.

She gave a little choked cry, and her face grew so white that Billie ran
to her, fearing she hardly knew what. But she had no need to worry, for
although fear sometimes kills, joy never does, and in a minute Miss
Arbuckle's eager hands were clutching the volume, her fingers trembling
as they rapidly turned over the leaves.

"Yes, here they are, here they are," she cried suddenly, and Billie,
peeping over her shoulder, looked down at the pictured faces of three of
the most beautiful children she had ever seen. "My darlings, my
darlings," Miss Arbuckle was saying over and over again. Then suddenly
her head dropped to the open page and her shoulders shook with the sobs
that tore themselves from her.

Billie turned away and tiptoed across the room, her own eyes wet, but she
stopped with her hand on the door.

"My little children!" Miss Arbuckle cried out sobbingly. "My precious
little babies! I couldn't lose your pictures after losing you. They were
all I had left of you, and I couldn't lose them, I couldn't--I
couldn't----"

Billie opened the door, and, stepping out into the hall, closed it softly
after her. She brushed her hand across her eyes, for there were tears in
them, and her feet felt shaky as she started up the stairs.

"Well, I--I never!" she told herself unsteadily. "First she nearly scares
me to death. And then