"There's nothing like plenty of good victuals for curing the vapors," observed Sally, sagely. "You make the young woman eat this, Mrs. Sharpe, and she'll feel better, you'll see."
Mrs. Sharpe smiled, as she bore off her burden, at the idea Sally must have of one little girl's appetite.
She found Mollie sitting at the window gazing at the sea, sparkling as if sown with stars, in the morning sunshine.
"Is it not beautiful?" she said, turning to the nurse. "Oh, if I were only free once more—free to have a plunge in that snow-white surf—free to have a breezy run along that delightful beach this magnificent morning?"
Mrs. Sharpe set down her tray, looked cautiously around her, lowered her voice, fixed her green-spectacled eyes meaningly on Mollie's face, and uttered these remarkable words:
"Wait! You may be free before long!"
"What do you mean?" cried Mollie, starting violently.
"Hush! 'Sh! 'sh!" laying her hand over the girl's mouth. "Not a word. Walls have ears, in prisons. Take your breakfast, miss," raising her voice. "It will do you no good, acting ugly and not eating."
For the stairs had creaked under a cautious, ascending footstep, and Mrs. Sharpe had heard that creak.
So, too, had Mollie this time; and she turned her shining eyes in eloquent silence to Mrs. Sharpe, and Mrs. Sharpe had nodded, and smiled, and grimaced toward the door in a way that spoke volumes.