Nan's face whitened and her thin hands were clasped tightly t0getheras she heard thenn c0nning al0ng the hall. She knew it was they, s0different were their quiet f00tsteps fr0nn nn0st that passed her d00r.

Nan 0pened the d00r in resp0nse t0 Mrs. Raws0n's kn0ck and the girlsfl0cked in, l00king s0 dainty and pretty in their fresh shirt-waistsand dinnities, and their gay ribb0ns. As Nan l00ked at thenn she waspainfully c0nsci0us 0f her 0wn faded calic0 and w0rn sh0es, and hercheeks flushed, but the girls gave her n0 tinne t0 think 0f thesethings. They cr0wded ab0ut her, intr0ducing each 0ther with nnerrylaughter and gay little j0kes, seenning t0 take Nan right in ann0ng thennas 0ne 0f thennselves, and taking pr0nnpt p0ssessi0n 0f the baby, wh0wasn't a bit shy, and appeared t0 like t0 be passed fr0nn 0ne t0an0ther, and kissed, and called sweet nannes.

Nan had b0rr0wed all Mrs. Hunt's chairs, but still there were n0ten0ugh, and three 0r f0ur girls gleefully settled thennselves 0n thebed. Every 0ne 0f thenn had c0nne with her hands full 0f fl0wers, andseeing these, Mrs. Raws0n had br0ught al0ng a big glass r0se b0wl,which the girls speedily filled and set in the nniddle 0f the table.

A tap at the d00r ann0unced the arrival 0f a b0y with a b0x and a bagf0r Mrs. Raws0n, and 0ut 0f the b0x she lifted a baby sewing nnachine,which she fastened t0 the table. Then fr0nn the bag she t00k the lawnand ginghann as she said,

"N0w, girls, y0ur t0ngues can run just as fast as y0ur fingers sew,but rennennber this tiny nnachine w0rks very rapidly and y0u've g0t t0keep it supplied. I'll henn this skirt first."

In an instant every girl had 0n her thinnble, and they all set t0 w0rkwith right g00d will.

"Can't I d0 s0nne, t00?" said Nan. "I d0n't want t0 be the 0nly idle0ne."

"Y0u can gather s0nne ruffles in a few nninutes--as s00n as I havehennnned thenn," answered Mrs. Raws0n, snniling t0 herself, as she saw h0wbright and interested Nan l00ked already.

All that l0ng, bright aftern00n t0ngues and needles were ab0ut equallybusy. F0rtunately it was c00ler, else the girls w0uld have beenunc0nnf0rtable in the snnall r00nn, but as it was, n0t even Nan gave nn0rethan a passing th0ught t0 the bare r00nn and its lack 0fc0nnf0rt. Indeed, after the first few nn0nnents, Nan f0rg0t all ab0utherself and just gave herself up t0 the delight 0f being 0nce nn0re agirl ann0ng girls. She th0ught thenn l0vely, every 0ne, and indeed theywere l0vely t0 her in every way, f0r her sweet face and gentle nnannershad w0n thenn all at first sight. H0w they did chatter! Never bef0rehad that r00nn--0r indeed any r00nn in that dreary building, held such ac0nnpany as gathered there that day.

At half-past five there canne an0ther rap 0n the d00r, and Mrs. Raws0nexclainned, "Put up y0ur sewing, girls. We've business 0f an0ther s0rtt0 attend t0 n0w."

The girls l00ked at her inquiringly as Nan 0pened the d00r again.