everyone was trying to save from the Dreadful Fever--"

Bessie Bell did not know what all that was about, but she felt so sorry
for the lady that she squeezed down ever so softly on her hand that
held her own still so tightly.

Sister Helen Vincula wiped her eyes.

The lady kept looking away off, but still held Bessie Bell's hand in
hers.

Then Sister Helen Vincula said: "We are going away to-morrow."

But the lady held fast to Bessie Bell's hand and said: "Not this little
girl."

"Oh," said Sister Helen Vincula, "but she is in my charge, and so what
can I do!"

And the lady said: "I cannot let her leave me--not ever."

But Sister Helen Vincula said: "Oh, madam, you do not know. No matter
what we hope, we do not know--"

But the lady held still faster to Bessie Bell's hand.

"Oh," said Sister Helen Vincula, "I have a thought! Come to our cabin
with me."

So they went.

And Bessie Bell walked between Sister Helen Vincula and the lady.

And they each held one of her little pink hands.

When they were at the cabin Sister Helen Vincula opened the old trunk
with the brass tacks on it, and she went down to the very bottom of it,
unpacking as she went. For the old trunk was almost entirely packed
for the going away to-morrow. Then Sister Helen Vincula took out, from
almost the bottom of the trunk, the little white night-gown that had
"Bessie Bell" written on it with linen thread.

And Sister Helen Vincula laid the little white night-gown across the
lady's lap.

Then the lady read the name written with the linen thread.

The lady said: "I worked this name with my own hands."

She drew Bessie Bell closer to her, and she said: "Sister Helen
Vincula, can you doubt?"

Bessie Bell stood contentedly where the lady held her, and she looked
first at the night-gown and then at the lady, then at Sister Helen
Vincula. She did not know or care what it was all about--she scarcely
wondered.

"Sister Helen Vincula," said the lady, "I know past all doubting that I
worked this name. You believe that. Much more past all doubting do
you not know--You must know--"

"Ah," said Sister Helen Vincula, "I hope with you." She reached for the
little night-gown, and she smoothed it in her fingers. "Ah," she said,
"the child has grown since she has been with us, so much, but the
little gown--it looks--really smaller to me--"

But the lady was not listening to Sister Helen Vincula. She had her
arms about Bessie Bell's