over to Mrs. Hall's to stay. Elsie and Clover were to have gone too, but
they begged so hard, and made so many promises of good behavior, that
finally Papa permitted them to remain. The dear little things stole
about the house on tiptoe, as quietly as mice, whispering to each other,
and waiting on Katy, who would have been lonely enough without them, for
everybody else was absorbed in Aunt Izzie.

It was a confused, melancholy time. The three girls didn't know much
about sickness, but Papa's grave face, and the hushed house, weighed
upon their spirits, and they missed the children very much.

"Oh dear!" sighed Elsie. "How I wish Aunt Izzie would hurry and
get well."

"We'll be real good to her when she does, won't we?" said Clover. "I
never mean to leave my rubbers in the hat-stand any more, because she
don't like to have me. And I shall pick up the croquet-balls and put
them in the box every night."

"Yes," added Elsie, "so will I, when she gets well."

It never occurred to either of them that perhaps Aunt Izzie might not
get well. Little people are apt to feel as if grown folks are so strong
and so big, that nothing can possibly happen to them.

Katy was more anxious. Still she did not fairly realize the danger. So
it came like a sudden and violent shock to her, when, one morning on
waking up, she found old Mary crying quietly beside the bed, with her
apron at her eyes. Aunt Izzie had died in the night!