And the band kept on playing gay music.

It was not very long before Sister Helen Vincula came back from
seeing the ladies across the long bridge, and from telling them
Good-bye. As soon as she saw Bessie Bell leaning up against the
lady she cried:

``Why, Bessie Bell! ''

Bessie Bell said, ``Sister Helen Vincula,'' and she knew she had done
something wrong, but she could only wonder what.

But the lady said very quickly,- and she held Bessie Bell's hand
even harder than before,--she said:

``Sister Helen Vincula, I must ask you something--''

Sister Helen Vincula and the lady talked a long time.

Bessie Bell did not listen very much to what they said.

She did not lean up against the lady now, but she sat close. Sister
Helen Vincula did not seem to mind that.

She did not swing her foot to and fro now, but she still felt very
contented and happy to have met the very Wisest Woman.

When she did listen a little she heard the lady say:

``There came news that my husband was ill in Mobile, and I feared