y capable of
earning my own living. I don't expect to be forever dependent upon my
friends."

"Dependent, indeed," sniffed Jessica. "You know perfectly well, you bad
child, that papa and I have been the gainers since you came to us, and
now--" she stopped just in time.

"'And now,' what?" asked Mabel.

"Here we are at the hospital," broke in Nora without giving Jessica time
to answer.

The little party waited what seemed to them an interminable length of
time; although it was in reality not more than five minutes before the
attendant returned with the news that they might see the patient in 47.

Grace had purposely voiced their request in so low a tone that Mabel had
not heard her mention the patient's name, and she accompanied the four
girls without the faintest idea of what their call might mean to her.

"Now for it," breathed Grace, as they paused at the door of 47.

"Come in," said a sweet voice, in answer to the attendant's knock, and
the five girls were ushered into Mrs. Allison's presence.

"How are my young friends, to-day!" she cried gayly, rising from the
easy chair in which she was sitting and coming forward with
out-stretched hands.

"Very well, indeed," replied Grace, Anne and Nora in a breath as they
shook hands.

"Mrs. Allison," said Grace hurriedly, "these are my friends, Miss
Jessica Bright and Miss Mabel Allison."

The woman who was in the act of acknowledging the introduction to
Jessica started violently when Grace pronounced Mabel's name, dropped
Jessica's hand and began to tremble as she caught sight of Mabel, who
stood behind Jessica, an expression of amazement in her brown eyes, that
the patient's name should be the same as her own.

"Who--who--" gasped the woman, pointing at Mabel, then overcome sank
into her chair, covering her face with her hands.

Grace sprang to her side in an instant, kneeling beside her chair.

"Mrs. Allison," she cried impulsively. "Forgive me. I should not have
startled you so. I did not really know, although I felt sure that--"

But Mrs. Allison had uncovered her face and was looking eagerly at
Mabel, who stood the picture of mystification.

"Who is that young girl who bears the name of my baby, and where did she
come from?" asked the patient hoarsely.

"Speak to her," whispered Jessica, pushing Mabel forward.

"I am Mabel Isabel Allison--" began Mabel, but before she could proceed
further the woman had risen, and clasping the girl in her arms, bega