it had been a doll.
The baby half opened its heavy eyes and whimpered a little, but did not
really awaken.

When Sonia and the child were in bed, Olga went across to Lizette's
room. Lizette's welcoming smile vanished at sight of the stern set face,
and she drew Olga quickly in and shut the door.

"O, what is it? What has happened, Olga?" she cried anxiously.

"My sister has come with her baby. I don't know how long she will stay."
Olga spoke in a dull lifeless voice. "I came to tell you, so that you
could get your breakfast somewhere else. You wouldn't enjoy having it
with me--now."

"O Olga, I'm so sorry--so _sorry_!" Lizette cried, her hands on her
friend's shoulders, her voice full of warm sympathy.

"I know, Lizette," Olga answered, a quivering smile stirring for an
instant the old hard line of her set lips. Then she turned away,
forgetting to say good-night. When the door closed behind her, Lizette's
eyes were full of tears.

"O, it's a shame--a shame!" she said aloud. "To think how happy she was
only last night, and now--now she looks as she did a year ago before
Elizabeth went to the camp. O, I wonder why that sister had to come
back!"

Lizette lay awake long that night, her heart full of sympathy for her
friend, and Olga, lying on her hard bed on the floor, did not sleep at
all. She went out early to the market, and coming back, prepared
breakfast, but when she called her sister, Sonia answered drowsily:

"I'm too tired to get up, Olga. Bring me some coffee and toast here,
will you?"

Olga carried her a tray, and Sonia ate and drank and then turned over
and went to sleep again, and Olga, having washed the dishes, went off to
the school. All day she worked steadily, forcing back the thoughts that
crowded continually into her mind; but when she turned homewards the
dark thoughts swooped down upon her like a flock of ravens, blotting out
all her happy hopes and joyous plans, for she knew--only too well she
knew--what she had to expect if Sonia remained.

"Well, you've come at last!" was her sister's greeting. "I hope you've
brought something nice for supper. I'm nearly starved. And you didn't
leave half enough milk for the baby."

"I left plenty for your dinner," Olga answered, "and I thought you could
get more milk for the baby if you wanted it."

"Get more! How could I get it without money? And you didn't leave me a
penny," Sonia complained.

Olga brought out a bottle of malted milk. "That will