"Thee'll always have some one to care for thee now; but thee mustn't say anything more;" and I saw strong sympathy in her moist eyes. "Yes," I breathed softly, "I should have died in New York." "And thee said an imp from the printing-house could take care of thee," she replied, with a low laugh. "Did I say that? I must have been out of my head." "Thee'll see that all was ordered for the best, and be content when thee gets strong. People are often better every way after a good fit of sickness. I believe the Good Physician will give His healing touch to thy soul as well as thy body. Ah, here is Zillah. Come in, little girl. Richard wishes to see thee." Bearing a bowl in both hands, she entered hesitatingly. "Why, Zillah, you waiting on me, too! It's all like a fairy tale, and I'm transformed into a great prince, and am waited on right royally. I'm going to drink that broth to your health, as if you were a great lady. It will do me more good than all the drugs of all the doctors, just because you are such a good little fairy, and have bewitched it." The child dimpled all over with pleasure as she came and stood by my side. "Oh, I'm so glad thee's getting well!" she cried. "Thee talks queer, but not so queer as thee did before. Thee--" A warning gesture from her mother checked her, and she looked a little frightened. "That will do, Zillah. After Richard has taken this I'm not going to let him talk for a long time." "Do you want to make me all well, Zillah?" I asked, smiling into her troubled and sympathetic face. She nodded eagerly and most emphatically. "Then climb on a chair and give me a kiss." After a quick, questioning look at her mother, she complied, laughing. "Ah, that puts life into me," I said. "You can tell them all that you did me more good than the doctor. I'll go with you to see the robins soon." "I've got something else for thee downstairs," she whispered, "something that Emily Warren gathered for thee," and she was gone in a flash. A moment later she stood in the doorway, announced in advance by the perfume of an exquisite cluster of rosebuds arranged in a dainty vase entwined and half hidden with myrtle. "Put the vase on the table by Richard, and then thee mustn't come any more." "Thee surely are from the Garden of Eden," I exclaimed. "These and your kiss, Zillah, will make me well. Tell Miss Warren that I am going to thank her myself. Good-by now," and she flitted out of the room, bright with the unalloyed happiness of a child. "Dear me," said Mrs. Yocomb, "thee must indeed get strong fast, for I do have such a time keeping the young people out of thy room. Reuben asks a dozen times a day if he can see thee, and father's nearly as bad. No more shall see thee to-day, I promise thee. Now thee must rest till to-morrow."