was in her eyes.

Rebecca Mary threw out her arm and sighed. "It LOOKS good, Thomas
Jefferson," she murmured. "When you're VERY hungry you can eat
things raw." Suddenly the child sat up in bed, wide-eyed and wild.
She did not seem to see Aunt Olivia at all.

"Once I ate a pie!" she cried. "It wasn't a whole one, but I should
eat a whole one now--I think I should eat the PLATE now." She swayed
back and forth weakly, awake and not awake.

"Once I ate a layer-cake. There was jam in it. I wouldn't care if
it was apple jelly in it now--I'd LIKE apple jelly in it now. Once
I ate a pudding and a doughnut a-n-d--a--a--I think it was a horse.
I'd eat a horse now. Hush! Don't tell Aunt Olivia, but I'm going
to eat--to--e-at--Thom-as--Jeffer--" She swayed back on the pillows
again. Aunt Olivia shook her in an agony of fear--she was so white--
she lay so still.

"Rebecca! Rebecca Mary! Rebecca Mary PLUMMER!" Aunt Olivia
shrilled in her ear. "You get right out o' bed this minute and come
downstairs and eat your supper! It's high time you had something in
your stomach--I don't care if it's twelve o'clock. You get right
out o' bed REBECCA MARY!"

Aunt Olivia had the limp little figure in her arms, shaking it
gently again and again. Rebecca's startled eyes flew open. In that
instant was born inspiration in the brain of Aunt Olivia. She thought
of an appeal to make.