"I wanted to buy it," said Mildred.
"I am sorry I could not sell it to you," said Mrs. Johnson kindly. "The bird is all the company I have, and besides I don't think it is well. It has not been singing much lately."
"Hasn't it?" asked Mildred. "I wanted it for Molly. She wants it."
"Who is Molly?"
"The little crippled girl that lives around that way." She pointed. "She lies at a window away, way up. You can almost see her out of your window where the cage hangs. She saw the bird from her window where she lies and that's the reason she wants it."
The woman looked down at the little girl thoughtfully. The big eyes were gazing up at her with a look of deep trouble in them.
"You can have the bird," she said suddenly. "Wait, I will get it." And before Mildred could take in her good fortune she had gone back into the house, and a second later she brought down the cage.
Mildred had not just understood that it was to be brought her then, and a new difficulty presented itself.
"But I haven't any money," she said.
"I don't want any money," said the poor lady.