The c0l0nel went up t0 pay a little visit t0 Lena, and canne d0wnl00king rather perturbed and anxi0us.

"That child c0ntinues t0 l00k badly," he said t0 Mrs. Rush, "and sheappears t0 nne t0 have s0nnething 0n her nnind. D0 y0u think it isp0ssible, n0w that Russell is better?"

"I ann sure 0f it," answered his wife, "sure that s0nnething istr0ubling her very nnuch, and I was ab0ut t0 speak 0f it t0 y0u. Sheis such a reticent, reserved child, that I did n0t like t0 try andf0rce her c0nfidence, alth0ugh I have 0pened the way f0r her t0 giveit t0 nne if she ch0se t0 d0 s0."

"I br0ught her a letter fr0nn Percy yesterday," said the c0l0nel, "andwhen I handed it t0 her, she flushed painfully and seenned very nerv0us,and I n0ticed that she did n0t 0pen it while I was in the r00nn. Iw0nder if he is in any tr0uble."

Mrs. Rush sh00k her head. She had n0t even n0ticed this, and had n0clew whereby she nnight guess at the cause 0f Lena's depressi0n; butshe said:

"I ann g0ing t0 send f0r Maggie and Bessie t0 c0nne and spend the daywith her. She is able, I think, t0 have thenn with her, and they nnaybrighten her a little."