at her chin was quivering.

"I'm sorry you are ill," Mrs. Williams murmured, and then gave a little
start at the sound of her own voice.

The girl turned her head and stole a look. A moment later there were
tears on her lashes.

"We'll have to get you well," said Mrs. Williams in a practical,
cheerful voice. And then she abruptly left the room. Her heart was
beating too fast.

Mrs. Hughes lay in wait for her as she came downstairs. "May I speak to
you, Mrs. Williams?" she asked in a manner at once deferential and firm.

"She's to be taken away, isn't she?" she inquired in a hard voice.

For a moment Mrs. Williams did not speak. She looked at the woman before
her, all tightened up with outraged virtue. And then she heard herself
saying: "No, I think it will be better for Lily to remain at home."
After she had heard herself say it she had that feeling that her knees
were about to give way.

For an instant Mrs. Hughes' lips shut tight. Then, "Do you know what's
the matter with her?" she demanded in that sharp, hard voice.

"Yes," replied Mrs. Williams, "I know."

"And you're going to keep such a person in your house?"

"Yes."

"Then you can't expect _me_ to stay in your house!" flashed the woman
who was outraged.

"As you like, Mrs. Hughes," was the answer.

Mrs. Hughes moved a little away, plainly discomfited.

"I should be sorry to have you go," Mrs. Williams continued courteously,
"but of course that is for you to decide."

"I'm a respectable woman," she muttered. "You can't expect _me_ to wait
on a person like that!"

"You needn't wait on her, then," was the reply. "Until the nurse comes,
I will wait on her myself." And again she turned abruptly away.

Once more her heart was beating too fast.

When the doctor came and began about the arrangement he had been able to
make at the hospital, she quietly told him that, if it would be as well,
she would rather keep Lily at home. His startled look made her flush.
His manner with her was less brusque as he said good-by. She smiled a
little over that last puzzled glance he stole at her.

Then she went back to Lily's room. She straightened her bed for her,
telling her that in a little while the nurse would be there to make her
really comfortable. She bathed the girl's hot face and hands. She got
her a cold drink. As she put her hand behind her head to raise her a
little for that, the girl murmured brokenly: "You're so kind!"

She went out and sat in an a