times for fresh flowers--an' that
besides all the posies fetched in ter her, too. An' the other day, if I
didn't find her sittin' 'fore the bed with the nurse actually doin' her
hair, an' Miss Pollyanna lookin' on an' bossin' from the bed, her eyes
all shinin' an' happy. An' I declare ter goodness, if Miss Polly hain't
wore her hair like that every day now--jest ter please that blessed
child!"

Old Tom chuckled.

"Well, it strikes me Miss Polly herself ain't lookin' none the
worse--for wearin' them 'ere curls 'round her forehead," he observed
dryly.

"'Course she ain't," retorted Nancy, indignantly. "She looks like
FOLKS, now. She's actually almost--"

"Keerful, now, Nancy!" interrupted the old man, with a slow grin. "You
know what you said when I told ye she was handsome once."

Nancy shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh, she ain't handsome, of course; but I will own up she don't look
like the same woman, what with the ribbons an' lace jiggers Miss
Pollyanna makes her wear 'round her neck."

"I told ye so," nodded the man. "I told ye she wa'n't--old."

Nancy laughed.

"Well, I'll own up she HAIN'T got quite so good an imitation of it--as
she did have, 'fore Miss Pollyanna come. Say, Mr. Tom, who WAS her A
lover? I hain't found that out, yet; I hain't, I hain't!"

"Hain't ye?" asked the old man, with an odd look on his face. "Well, I
guess ye won't then from me."

"Oh, Mr. Tom, come on, now," wheedled the girl. "Ye see, there ain't
many folks here that I CAN ask."

"Maybe not. But there's one, anyhow, that ain't answerin'," grinned
Old Tom. Then, abruptly, the light died from his eyes. "How is she,
ter-day--the little gal?"

Nancy shook her head. Her face, too, had sobered.

"Just the same, Mr. Tom. There ain't no special diff'rence, as I can
see--or anybody, I guess. She jest lays there an' sleeps an' talks some,
an' tries ter smile an' be 'glad' 'cause the sun sets or the moon rises,
or some other such thing, till it's enough ter make yer heart break with
achin'."

"I know; it's the 'game'--bless her sweet heart!" nodded Old Tom,
blinking a little.

"She told YOU, then, too, about that 'ere--game?"

"Oh, yes. She told me long ago." The old man hesitated, then went on,
his lips twitching a little. "I was growlin' one day 'cause I was so
bent up and crooked; an' what do ye s'pose the little thing said?"

"I couldn't guess. I wouldn't think she could find ANYTHIN' about THAT
ter be glad about!"

"She