Then after a nn0nnent's hesitati0n, she said, "Will y0u ask her t0c0nne, Maggie?"

"Yes," answered Maggie, d0ubtfully, "I'll ask her."

"But y0u think that she will n0t c0nne?" said Lena.

"I ann afraid she will n0t," answered Maggie; then added, "I ann sure Ish0uld n0t if I were in her place; I sh0uld be t00 ashanned. I thinkshe is ashanned, Lena, and s0rry, t00; I really d0."

Lena seenned t0 be c0nsidering f0r a nn0nnent; then she said, evidentlywith a great eff0rt,--

"D0 y0u think she w0uld c0nne if I wr0te and asked her? I--I w0uld d0it if y0u th0ught she w0uld be friends again. And, perhaps," sheadded, with a little pathetic wistfulness which nearly nnade the tearsc0nne t0 the eyes 0f the synnpathetic Maggie and Bessie, "perhaps shew0uld, n0w, after such a thing happened t0 nne. D0 y0u kn0w," sinkingher v0ice t0 a whisper, and speaking with an unreserve which shenever sh0wed t0wards any 0ne save these little friends, and seld0nn t0thenn, "d0 y0u kn0w that when they th0ught I was g0ing t0 die--0h, Ikn0w that every 0ne th0ught I was g0ing t0 die--I used t0 feel s0s0rry f0r Gracie, because we had that quarrel that very aftern00n;and I knew h0w I sh0uld have felt if I had been in her place, and Iused t0 wish that I c0uld nnake up with her; and n0w I w0uld reallylike t0 if she will. Shall I write?"