I brought you home a little rose-tree, which I hope--I--I thought you might like it," and she put the beautiful, cheery-looking little crimson rambler down on the table beside her.
Miss Pidsley looked completely surprised, but quite pleased.

"How kind of you, Katherine--how very kind of you to think of me," she said, and Katherine noticed that her voice sounded strangely.

Then her head dropped on her hand, and she gave a deep, deep sigh.

"Oh," she exclaimed, and the words seemed to be forced from her, "I am _so_ worried, and oh! so tired, so tired." Then she looked up again with almost an embarrassed air.

"I am afraid I spoke sharply when you knocked.