She could think of nothing but her
grandmother's grief when she learned of the calamity which had befallen
her. Somebody had to break the news to her, too, and that somebody would
have to be herself. Mona leaned her elbows on the dressers amongst the
broken china and, burying her face in her hands, burst into a torrent of
tears.

Millie spoke to her once or twice, but Mona could not reply. "Well, if
she won't open her lips, I might as well go," thought Millie, and,
creeping out of the front door, she hurried away down the hill, only too
delighted to have got away so easily.

Mona heard her go, but made no effort to stop her. She felt too utterly
miserable even to reproach her.

Presently other footsteps came to the door, followed by a gentle knocking.
Mona, in consternation, straightened herself and wiped her eyes.
"Who can it be? I can't go to the door like this!" Her face was crimson,
and her eyes were nearly closed, they were so swelled.

The knock was repeated. "Mona, may I come in?" It was Patty Row's voice.
Mona was fond of Patty, and she had begun to long for sympathy and advice.

"Cub id," she called out as well as she could. "Cub id, Paddy."
Patty opened the door. "What a dreadful cold you've got," she said,
sympathetically. "I've just seen your grandmother, and she asked me to
tell you she's having tea with Lucy." Mona turned and faced her.

"Why!--Why! Mona! Oh, my! Whatever is the matter?"

Mona's tears began again, nearly preventing her explanation.
"Millie Higgins came in, and--and got teasing me, and--and----"

"I've just seen her hurrying home," cried Patty. "I thought she came out
from here. What has she done, Mona? She's always bullying somebody."

"She--she threw the cushion at me, 'cause--'cause I didn't get her some
tea, and--oh, Patty, what shall I do?--just look at what she has done.
That tea-set was more than a hundred years old, and--and granny thinks the
world of it--and I've got to tell her." Mona's voice rose to a pitiful
wail. "Oh, my. I wish--I wish I was dead. I wish----"

"That'd only be another great trouble for her to bear," said wise little
Patty, soberly. "Millie ought to tell her, of course. It's her doing.
P'raps that is where she has gone."

Mona shook her head. She had no hope of Millie's doing that.

"Well," said Patty, in her determined little way, "if she doesn't it
shan't be for want of being told that she ought to."

"She'll never do it