suppose I could give them away--oh, there's Mrs. Crump! The very
thing! Maybe they'll help her to forget her pain. I'll take them
in now!" She caught up the vase and bore it triumphantly along the
hall.

Mrs. Crump was on the couch.

"All for me? Why, Miss Sterling! How good you are! You can't
have kept many for yourself."

"I don't want any," laughed the donor. "I'll be glad enough if you
can enjoy them."

Miss Crilly and Miss Major came in.

"Mis' Crump! if you're not tryin' to beat Miss Sterling! Seems
like a hospital 'stead of a Home, so many roses round!--You don't
say she's given you all hers? My, ain't you the limit o'
generosity. Miss Sterling! You look lots better. Mis' Crump!
Maybe it's the reflection o' the roses! Lovely color, ain't it!
He must be a goner, sure! How many times a week d' they come?
'Nother card swooped, I s'pose? It beats me!"

Miss Major opened the door for Miss Castlevaine.

"I couldn't help hearing what you said about another card--who's
lost one now?"

She shook her head while Miss Crilly explained. "We shall have to
lock up our jewelry pretty soon--huh! How do you feel this
morning, Mrs. Crump? Had the doctor?"

The invalid winced and caught her breath, as a sudden twinge shot
through her arm. "I don't know as I'm any worse," she said. "I
haven't slept a wink since two o'clock! No, the doctor didn't stop
here! I thought maybe he would, he was in Mrs. Post's room, right
next door; but Mrs. Nobbs said yesterday it wasn't necessary--it's
'only pain,' you know!"

"Only pain!" laughed Miss Crilly. "Isn't that enough? Then, when
I'm sick it'll be with something besides pain--I'll remember that!
And I'll have the doctor when I need him--don't you forget it!"

"What's the matter with Mrs. Post?" queried Miss Castlevaine.

"Something about her knee--she told me the doctor was going to
bandage it up. It was Mrs. Post, you know!" Mrs. Crump emphasized
the sentence with lowered voice and lifted eyebrows.

Miss Castlevaine nodded. "No favorites in the June Holiday Home!
How did you like the dinner yesterday noon?" She smiled knowingly.

"It's good-bye, pudding, forevermore!" laughed Miss Crilly.
"Didn't it seem queer not to have a bit of dessert?"

"Same as other days," returned Miss Major. "I suppose the Sunday
pie will go next."

"So I heard!" Miss Castlevaine's lips thinned themselves together.
"But that isn't the worst thing! Do you know about