ying good-night, and Rosanna remained
seated on the bed, her head whirling, her mouth dry and quivering.

Rosanna did not try to undress. Warm as it was, she was chilled to the
bone. What would happen to Helen? And of course Mr. Culver would have to
go. An hour went by, and another. She heard her grandmother coming up
the stairs. Quick as thought she pressed the button and the room was
pitch dark. Her grandmother approached her door, opened it a crack and
listened. Hearing nothing, seeing nothing, she closed it and went on to
her own room.

Rosanna breathed freely again, and turned on the light. An overpowering
desire to see Minnie swept over her. She _must_ see Minnie, must comfort
her and be comforted. She felt that she would go mad if she had to spend
the night alone. She looked at the little gold clock on her table. It
was eleven o'clock.

She slipped off her shoes, and noticed for the first time that she was
still wearing her coat and hat. She tossed them aside, once more put out
the light, and tiptoed toward the door. She was going to Minnie.

With the greatest care she turned the knob and opened the door a crack.
She opened the door wide and stepped into the blackness of the hall.

Something soft and warm and human collided with her. Hands clutched her,
and a well-known voice whispered, "Dearie!"

After the first moment of fright, Rosanna felt herself go limp. She
clung fast.

"Oh, Minnie, Minnie!" she choked.

"Hush!" whispered Minnie. She drew Rosanna into her own room, closed the
door, and switched on the light.

"Oh, my precious lamb!" she said. "What did she do to you? Oh, why
didn't I come sooner? You look fit to die. Come, dearie, and let your
Minnie do for you to-night."

She took Rosanna on her lap and tenderly undressed her. Then she folded
a warm kimono around the shivering, nervous child and, sitting down in a
deep chair, took her on her lap and held her tight.

Rosanna stiffened and sat up. "Suppose she comes in?" she said.

"No danger!" said Minnie. "I turned the key." She laughed. "If she wants
to see you again she will have to wait until to-morrow, no matter what.
I don't intend to see that look on your pretty dear face much longer.
Now tell your Minnie just what happened."

"I don't seem to be able to remember much about it," said the tired and
frightened child; "only when I came home,--and oh, Minnie, we _did_ have
such a good time!--there was grandmother at the door instead of yo