the baby's forehead. It was as though the girl, Gloria, beside her was
reaching too far. Lifting her head, she said in a cold voice:

"They don't mend things around here. But maybe they will the railing. It
costs money to mend, and they say things don't stay mended. Maybe they
don't."

Gloria sat looking straight in front of her. What a world it was,
compared with her own world! At last she said in a low tone:

"Did they mend the ceiling?"

"No," answered Rose. "But then, it don't matter. She died soon after,
you know. The hole is there yet." Gloria rose; she was growing anxious
for a change. Something seemed somehow choking her.

Out in the hall an angry voice was suddenly heard. It was a woman's
voice pitched high.

"I tell yez, I'll have the law on thim! It's toime somebody was afther
doin' on't, an' it's up to me, with me poor Sal lyin' in the hospital!
The one that owns this house is a murdherer! I'll tell yez, it's the
truth!"

Gloria was standing with eyes wide opened and face flushed. She drew a
quick breath of relief as she heard the voice of the District Nurse.

"Oh, hush! Do hush!" the District Nurse pleaded, and there seemed an
agony of fear mingled with the words.