Swiftly, as in a lightning flash, and without premonition, she
remembered.

"Evelina was burnt," she said to herself, triumphantly, "over to Doctor
Dexter's, and they took her on the train to the hospital. I guess she
wears that veil all the time."

Then Miss Hitty stopped at her own gate, catching her breath quickly.
"She must have been burnt awful," she thought. "Poor soul!" she
murmured, her sharp eyes softening with tears. "Poor soul!"




III

The Pearls

A rap at the door roused Miss Evelina from a deadly stupor which seemed
stabbed through with daggers of pain. She sat quite still, determined
not to open the door. Presently, she heard the sound of retreating
footsteps, and was reassured. Then she saw a bit of folded paper which
had been slipped under the door, and, mechanically, she picked it up.

"Here's your supper," the note read, briefly. "When you get done,
leave the tray outside. I'll come and get it. I would like to have
you come over if you want to.--Mehitable Smith."

Touched by the unexpected kindness, Miss Evelina took in the tray.
There was a bowl of soup, steaming hot, a baked potato, a bit of thin