," sobbed Lois.

Anne tried to soothe her with promises that she would bring Honey-Sweet
back soon, dressed in a pink hat and a pink-flowered muslin. But Lois
would not be consoled and Anne left her at last in tears.

Monday morning before school time, Peggy and John Edward and Elmore came
to Miss Dorcas's door and asked for Anne. Would she please lend them
Honey-Sweet that day? They'd be ever and ever so careful.

"Lend Honey-Sweet!" exclaimed Anne.

They hated to ask it but Lois would not take her medicine. She had
pushed aside and spilled dose after dose. "She says she won't take that
nasty old bitter old stuff. And her cheeks are so red and she breathes
so rattly. Mommer's scairt. And the doctor man'll be so mad. Mommer
asked her if she'd take her medicine for Honey-Sweet and she said
'Yes.' So mommer say for us to run and beg you do please lend us your
baby-doll to-day."

"If Lois is so sick,--oh, I suppose I must," said Anne; "but--Peggy,
will you be careful of her every minute of the time and bring her back
this afternoon--sure and certain?"

Peggy promised, and Peggy did. "Lois took her medicine fine," she said,
smiling and dimpling. "Mommer give her a dost a hour before time so's I
could bring your baby-doll and get home before dark. Here she is. See! I
ain't even mussed her curls."

The next day, Lois was worse again. Her mother confessed that they had
"worrited half the night with her and not got a dost down her," but
Honey-Sweet brought her to terms.

When Miss Margery rose to go, Anne hesitated a minute, then said, "Mrs.
Callahan, if I let Honey-Sweet stay here to-night with Lois, can you
take good, good care of her?"

Mrs. Callahan's face beamed. "That I can, and that I will. I been
wantin' to ask you to let her stay and hatin' to do it, seein' how much
you set store by her. I'll take care of her good as if she was my own
baby."

The next afternoon, Anne found Honey-Sweet sitting in state on the
mantel-piece beside the medicine bottle.

"She comes down with it and she goes back with it," said Mrs. Callahan.
"The doctor was here this noon and he says she's better and if she takes
her medicine reg'lar and keeps on the mend till Sadday he thinks she'll
be all right. I hope she'll take it. She does every time for that doll."
And the worried mother looked anxiously at Anne.

"I reckon I'll have to spare Honey-Sweet till Saturday," said Anne, with
an effort. She missed her pet and the Callahan fam