't buy with money. I couldn't buy Helen, could I? And
I couldn't buy Mrs. Hargrave."

Minnie started.

"No, dearie, you couldn't," she said. "And I have got to trot along now
because I have to go out this afternoon, and if Mrs. Culver and Helen
are coming over, I know you will be all right."

Rosanna found her little workbasket and, taking a book to read until her
guests came, went over to the playhouse and commenced rocking in one of
the little wicker chairs.

Minnie dressed carefully but plainly and went out. Rosanna would have
been much surprised if she had seen her hurry down the street and turn
into Mrs. Hargrave's big house.

Mrs. Hargrave was waiting for her and after a kindly greeting she said:
"Minnie, I want you to tell me all about this Culver family, and how
Rosanna found Helen, and how they happen to be such good friends, and
how it is that you allowed it when you know just how Mrs. Horton feels
about family and all that."

Minnie did not flinch.

"I have been wanting to come and tell you all about it," she said, "but
I thought that you would find out things from the children. Mrs. Horton
just won't let Rosanna know _any_ children at all. But I don't feel like
saying all I would like to say, seeing how I work for Mrs. Horton."

"You would free your mind, I reckon, if you were at your own home,
wouldn't you?"

"Yes, ma'am, I would!" said Minnie.

"Well, then," said Mrs. Hargrave, "suppose you and I talk as though we
were just a couple of human beings who want to do a kind turn for two
little girls. That Helen child was over here this morning, to tell me
that she was afraid I thought she belonged to some fine family like the
Culvers of Lee County. Lee County indeed! Those Culvers are scalawags,
every man of them! She is lucky she doesn't own one of them for a
father.

"And the honest little angel was afraid I would be disappointed when I
found out who she really is. Well, Minnie, I was never so pleased with a
child in my life! I am going to do something for her some day.

"Now I want to hear from you just how this friendship started. It seems
a letter that I wrote to Mrs. Horton put the seal on it and I want to
know where we all stand."

"Whatever we do there is going to be an awful fuss," said Minnie,
sighing. She sat on the edge of the chair facing Mrs. Hargrave and told
that lady more of Rosanna's lonely, friendless little life than Mrs.
Hargrave had ever guessed. She told her of the diffe