it come from?" cried Rose, leaning down to look.

"I'll tell you the story, and then you shall advise me what to do. At
our hospital we've had a poor woman who got hurt and died two days
ago. I had nothing to do with her, only took her a bit of fruit once or
twice, for she had big, wistful sort of eyes that haunted me. The day
she died I stopped a minute, and the nurse said she'd been wanting to
speak to me but didn't dare. So I asked if I could do anything for her
and, though she could hardly breathe for pain being almost gone she
implored me to take care of baby. I found out where the child was, and
promised I'd see after her for the poor soul couldn't seem to die till
I'd given her that comfort. I never can forget the look in her eyes as
I held her hand and said, 'Baby shall be taken care of.' She tried to
thank me, and died soon after quite peacefully. Well, I went today and
hunted up the poor little wretch. Found her in a miserable place, left
in the care of an old hag who had shut her up alone to keep her out of
the way, and there this mite was, huddled in a corner, crying 'Marmar,
marmar!' fit to touch a heart of stone. I blew up at the woman and took
the baby straightaway, for she had been abused. It was high time. Look
there, will you?"

Mac turned the little skinny arm and showed a blue mark which made Rose
drop her reins and stretch out both hands, crying with a tender sort
of indignation: "How dared they do it? Give her to me, poor little
motherless thing!"

Mac laid the bundle in her arms, and Rose began to cuddle it in the
fond, foolish way women have a most comfortable and effective way,
nevertheless and baby evidently felt that things were changing for
the better when warm lips touched her cheeks, a soft hand smoothed her
tumbled hair, and a womanly face bent over her with the inarticulate
cooings and purrings mothers make. The frightened eyes went up to this
gentle countenance and rested there as if reassured; the little claw
crept to the girl's neck, and poor baby nestled to her with a long sigh
and a plaintive murmur of "Marmar, marmar" that certainly would have
touched a stony heart.

"Now, go on. No, Rosa, not you," said the new nurse as the intelligent
animal looked around to see if things were all right before she
proceeded.

"I took the child home to mother, not knowing what else to do, but
she wouldn't have it at any price, even for a night. She doesn't like
children, you know, and Father