d the tangled curls. "It is getting late,
dearie, and we must hurry home," she said.

But Lois followed them down the path, crying, "Wait, lady, wait." She
smiled up into Anne's face. "I dess want kiss sweet Honey one time," she
said. "I ain't done kiss her yet." Then she pressed her lips on the
lace-ruffled flounces and toddled back to the house.

CHAPTER XXVII

Several weeks passed during which Miss Margery saw nothing of the
Callahans. Mr. Callahan came back from the workhouse and, with fear of
another term before his eyes, he managed to keep away from his old
comrades and to provide for his family. Anne saw Peggy at school and,
with Cousin Dorcas's permission, talked to her sometimes in recess and
kept informed as to how many teeth the baby had and the new words Bud
could say. All the children had bad colds, Peggy said one day, "terrible
bad, and the doctor he says mommer must keep the windows open and she
lets 'em stay up while he's there to pleasure him and shuts 'em soon as
he goes away."

The next day and for several days thereafter, Peggy was absent from
school. Anne looked eagerly forward to Saturday when she was to put on
her old shoes--she had new ones now--and go with Miss Margery to inquire
about the little Callahans.

Friday afternoon, however, brought Peggy to the door, asking for Anne.
It was an anxious-faced Peggy. "I ain't been to school 'cause Lois is
sick," she explained. "She been sick all week and she gets no better all
the time. And she keeps on frettin' to see that doll of yours. She been
talkin' 'bout it ever since you was there. And she say if she can just
see that doll--she don't ask to touch it--she'll take her medicine.
That's why she's so bad off. She won't take her medicine. And mommer
sent word to know, won't you please come over and bring your doll for
her to see."

"What is the matter with Lois?" asked Miss Dorcas.

"Doctor says she's threatened with the pneumony and she's terrible bad
off," said Peggy.

As Miss Margery was not at home, Miss Dorcas herself went with Anne and
Honey-Sweet to see the sick child. They walked down the dingy street,
took short cuts across vacant lots, passed through the 'No Thoroughfare'
gate, and followed the straggling path that led to the little brown
house.

Their knock at the door was followed by a scrambling and scampering
within, and a hoarse wail from Lois. Then a window was raised, a little
face peeped out, and a relieved voice s