Do you think she ever will be ?" "Well--well--" "Please! Will she, or won't she ?" "You can only--only hope--for the best." "I hope she will, for Jack's sake!" sighed Mary deeply.

She picked up an evening paper Jack had brought in.

"Did you know his mother was very ill at the time she sailed?
This paper says she was so sick that she was unable to see a single one of her friends who came to see her off.

That was too bad, wasn't it!" There was a great deal of genuine feeling in the voice of the small person.
Mrs.De Peyster remained silent.
"Why, you don't seem at all sympathetic, Matilda!" Mrs.De Peyster put a hand to her lips.

"I'm--I'm very sorry, ma'am," she mumbled between her fingers, trying to assume Matilda's humility.
"Why, what's the matter with your voice?
It seems husky." "It's just"-- Mrs.De Peyster swallowed--a little summer cold I caught to-day.