ch she scrubbed the lame puppy. This puppy had
three legs and the mange, and he was her particular pride.

There were certain other things, the use of which they did not
understand, like queer-smelling, soft, yellow balls which Necia said
were oranges and good to eat, although the skins were leathery and very
bitter, nor were they nearly so pleasant to the nose as the toilet
soap, which Necia would not allow them even to taste. Then there was a
box of chocolate candies such as the superintendent at St. Michael's
sent them every spring, and an atomizer, which Necia had filled with
Florida Water. This worked on the puppy even better than the
tooth-brush.

The elder girl laughed gladly as Poleon entered, though her eyes were
wet with the pity of it.

"You seem to bring sunshine wherever you go," she said. "They have
never had things to play with like other children, and it makes me cry
to watch them."

"Ho, ho!" he chuckled, "dis ain'no time for cryin'. Ba gosh! I guess
you don' have so much present w'en you was li'l' gal you'se'f, w'at?
Mebbe you t'ink I forget you. Wal, I didn't."

He began to undo the fastenings of a parcel he carried in his arms, for
Napoleon Doret had brought other things from Dawson besides his gifts
to the children. Necia snatched at the package.

"Don't you dare open it! Why, that's half the fun." She was a child
herself now, her face flushed and her hands a-tremble. Taking the
package to the table, she hurriedly untied the knots while he stood
watching her, his teeth showing white against his dark face, and his
eyes half shut as if dazzled by the sight of her.

"Oh, why didn't you tie more knots in it?" she breathed as she undid
the last, and then, opening the wrappings slowly, she gasped in
astonishment. She shook it out gently, reverently--a clinging black
lace gown of Paris make. Next she opened a box and took from it a
picture hat, with long jet plumes, which she stroked and pressed fondly
against her face. There were other garments also--a silken petticoat,
silk stockings, and a pair of high-heeled shoes to match, with certain
other delicate and dainty things which she modestly forbore to inspect
before the Frenchman, who said no word, but only gazed at her, and for
whom she had no eyes as yet. Finally she laid her presents aside, and,
turning to him, said, in a hushed, awe-stricken voice:

"It's all there, everything complete! Oh, Poleon--you dear, dear
Poleon!" She took his two bi