He had come to bring help to the dying girl, but he was funny in spite of the dreary tragedy, and Nora changed her tears to laughter and began to giggle violently, burying her face in her handkerchief in her effort to control her mirth.
Her laughter was always contagious, and presently her two friends were giggling in chorus.
"Do hush, Nora O'Malley!" whispered Jessica nervously.

"You know that if you once get us started we'll never stop." A countryman, sitting back of Nora, touched her on the shoulder.
"Be you laughing or crying, miss ?" he asked.

"It ain't a time for laughing nor yet for crying, since the young lady ain't dead yet and I don't believe she's goin' to die, either." "She just is," exclaimed Nora, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"She'll die before she gets off that bed to-night, I'll wager anything." All this while, the chrysanthemum with the note twisted and pinned to its stem lay in the middle of the stage.

In the meantime, Anne had fallen into a stupor from cold and hunger.