there are
times when I'd give almost anything to have one. Well, I must try to
be satisfied with friendship, instead.

Margaret's meditations were interrupted by a brisk footstep behind
her, and presently Dr. Forbes came up.

"Good afternoon, Miss Campbell. Taking a constitutional?"

"Yes. Isn't it a lovely day? I suppose you are on your professional
rounds. How are all your patients?"

"Most of them are doing well. But I'm sorry to say I have a new one
and am very much worried about her. Do you know Freda Martin?"

"The little teacher in the Primary Department who boards with the
Wayes? Yes, I've met her once or twice. Is she ill?"

"Yes, seriously. It's typhoid, and she has been going about longer
than she should. I don't know what is to be done with her. It seems
she is like yourself in one respect, Miss Campbell; she is utterly
alone in the world. Mrs. Waye is crippled with rheumatism and can't
nurse her, and I fear it will be impossible to get a nurse in
Blythefield. She ought to be taken from the Wayes'. The house is
overrun with children, is right next door to that noisy factory, and
in other respects is a poor place for a sick girl."

"It is too bad, I am very sorry," said Margaret sympathetically.

Dr. Forbes shot a keen look at her from his deep-set eyes. "Are you
willing to show your sympathy in a practical form, Miss Campbell?" he
said bluntly. "You told me the other day you meant to begin work for
others next year. Why not begin now? Here's a splendid chance to
befriend a friendless girl. Will you take Freda Martin into your home
during her illness?"

"Oh, I couldn't," cried Margaret blankly. "Why, I'm going away next
week. I'm going with Mrs. Boyd to Vancouver, and my house will be shut
up."

"Oh, I did not know. That settles it, I suppose," said the doctor with
a sigh of regret. "Well, I must see what else I can do for poor Freda.
If I had a home of my own, the problem would be easily solved, but as
I'm only a boarder myself, I'm helpless in that respect. I'm very much
afraid she will have a hard time to pull through, but I'll do the best
I can for her. Well, I must run in here and have a look at Tommy
Griggs' eyes. Good morning, Miss Campbell."

Margaret responded rather absently and walked on with her eyes fixed
on the road. Somehow all the joy had gone out of the day for her, and
out of her prospective trip. She stopped on the little bridge and
gazed unseeingly at the ice-bound creek. Di