lk into bed!"

Without a word he disappeared in an adjoining room, while his wife
lifted the stove cover, to see if his tasks had been faithfully
performed.

Polly's forlorn hope vanished with the little man; but no tears
came until she was on her pillow, shut from all eyes. Then they
gushed forth in a flood.

Chapter XIII

The Return

Polly was awakened early by clashing talk. The girls, whose room
she shared, were in a wrangle over her pretty, blue hair ribbon.

Sophia had spied it first, and was slyly using it for her own
straight locks, when Maude had snatched it away, and a hubbub
followed.

The owner of it did not interfere, but began to dress, as if she
had no interest in the cause of the quarrel.

"She's more stuck-up 'n she used to be!" Polly overheard Maude
sneer, as she hurried away in response to her aunt's call.

Mr. Bean wass already eating breakfast, and he greeted the little
girl pleasantly, though keeping watch of his wife, who was frying
cakes.

"Here! Give these to you uncle," Polly was bidden; whereupon the
little man began such attempts at kindliness as to draw out a
contemptuous, "Huh!" from over the griddle. After that he
fastened his eyes on his plate, and ate in silence.

By the time the elder children were off for school, and the
younger had departed to a neighboring tenement, Polly's early
tasks were completed, and she sat down again to the button-sewing.

The little kitchen was very still, and Polly's thoughts sped back
to the big house on the hill. She wondered how long it would be
before she should see Dr. Dudley and Miss Lucy. Were they
worrying about her and trying to find her? She could only guess.

"I b'lieve I'll run up and get that ginger-bread receipt of Mis'
Moore's." The nasal voice broke in rudely upon the wondering.

Mrs. Bean shook the threads from her apron, and turned towards the
door.

"If the kids come in and want something to eat, before I get
back," she halted to say, "there's cookies in that little stone
pot in the cupboard. Don't let 'em have but two apiece."

Wild thoughts, entirely foreign to Aunt Jane's directions, were
flashing through Polly's mind.

If only there were time! She could try it! She must let Dr.
Dudley and the others know!

"I shan't be gone long," her aunt was saying. "You stick to your
work!"

Polly waited only to hear her walk the length of the hall above,
and a door open and shut. The she cautiously stole