lear the table.
She was taking up her old tasks as naturally as if she had never
been free from them.

"Guess I'll go up myself for a few minutes," mused Mrs. Bean.
"'Rastus, you go fetch Marcus and 'Melie home! Marcus 'u'd have
a fit if we went up on the roof without him. And, Polly, you can
put 'Melie to bed, and do up the dishes, and then come on up, if
you want to. 'Rastus!"

The little man halted in the doorway.

"What, Jane?"

"Split up some kindlin's when you git back, and you may as well
fix the fire for mornin'--it must be about out now."

The dishes were nearly washed when the children were brought in;
and the boy had departed for the roof, and his small sister was in
bed, by the time the new uncle had finished his chores.

"I'll put them plates up in the cupboard," volunteered the
little man. "Set ri' down and rest."

But Polly helped, until the last dish was in place and the pan
hung up on its mail. Then she dropped wearily into a chair.

"That Maude ought to have wiped 'em for yer," he sympathized.
"But them kids!" He wagged his head soberly. "I'd ruther stan'
at the bench, down to the shop, all day long, than be round with
such actin' mortals. Jane, she can manage 'em if she sets out;
but 'most gen'ally she don't set out. Wisht I could do somethin'
for yer," we proffered. "Ye're all tuckered out!"

"Oh, I'm just a little tired--that's all!" smiled Polly. "You
are ever so good! I wanted to go up to the hospital, and tell
them where I am--they don't know, and I'm afraid they'll worry!
But I guess I can't to-night," she ended sadly.

"Why, I can run up there for yer, jus' 's well 's not," he
nodded.

"Oh! Will you?" she brightened. "I'll be so glad! But won't it
be too much trouble?"

"Not a bit!" he returned glibly. Then his pinched face shaded.
"If I can git back before she comes down," he hesitated,
wavering between kindness and fear. "I guess I can," he
decided, and put on this hat.

"If Dr. Dudley is n't there," Polly told him, "please ask for
Miss Lucy Price. She'll do just as well. She's the nurse in our
ward."

"I'll do it up all straight," he exulted, stepping briskly with
the importance of his errand. But as his hand touched the knob,
another's was before it. His wife opened the door.

"Where you goin', 'Rastus Bean?" she demanded.

"I--I was just goin' out for a little walk," he faltered.

"A walk!" she snapped. "If you've got your chores done, you'd
better wa