A wave of compassion swept over Katherine's heart for this sweet, patient woman, who was so heavily burdened with her own cares, yet ever ready to do for others.
"Give my love to Dorrie," she said, adding: "And I will run in to see her this afternoon, if I may."
"Do, Miss Minturn," said her companion, eagerly. "You always do the child good, and she will have something pleasant to look forward to during the day."
Miss Reynolds enjoyed her breakfast, which she ate with perfect ease. Then she said she would like to be left alone to rest until noon, when Katherine might bring her a light dinner—"provided her breakfast did not hurt her."
Katherine pinned upon her door a slip of paper on which was written "not to be disturbed"; then went away to her own duties, which would be over at noon, it being Saturday and a half holiday.
After eating her own dinner, she arranged a generous and tempting meal on a tray and took it to her teacher's room.
She found her up and dressed in her wrapper and seated in a comfortable rocker, reading "Science and Health," which she had left lying on the table.
Miss Reynolds looked up and nodded brightly as she laid down the book.
"Isn't this perfectly lovely? Aren't you astonished to find me up?" she inquired, as she bestowed a fond pat upon the girl who had drawn a small table to her side and was arranging her dinner upon it.
"Not in the least," said Katherine, bending to kiss the cheek nearest her.