Carita was sitting up—her long hair brushed and braided smartly; her face—still a bit white—wreathed in smiles.

Blue Bonnet hovered over her.

"Have you been awfully lonely, Carita?"

"No—not a bit."

"Really?"

"No, truly I haven't. Mrs. Goodwin is such a dear, Blue Bonnet. She makes me think of my mother. She read to me—and cooked things for me, herself: the best milk toast, with cream on it; and to-day I had ice-cream—"

"You did? Well, that's more than we had. This was heavenly hash day!"

"I've had visitors, too; Miss North—she brought me those flowers over there—"

Blue Bonnet turned to look at two pink roses on a table by the bed.

"—and Fraulein—"