Marty in her usual wholesale way would have carried half her possessions to Jennie, but Mrs. Ashford prevailed upon her to limit her gift to a small book and a few bright cards. "You would better see Jennie first," she said. "She may not care for books and may be too miserable to care much for playthings." It happened the day they fixed upon to go Mrs. Ashford brought home from market a small measure of strawberries, though they were yet somewhat expensive. Marty, seeing them on the lunch-table, nearly went wild over them, being very fond of the fruit, but her mother noticed that after she was served she barely tasted them, and then sat with the spoon in her hand gravely thinking. "Don't you like them after all, Marty?" "O mamma, they're perfectly delicious! I was just thinking how good they would taste to Jennie. Can't we take her some of them?" "I am afraid there are none to spare. You know Katie must have some, and I want to save a few for your papa." "I might take her mine," said Marty slowly. "I've only eaten one." But she looked at the berries longingly. "That would be too much of a sacrifice, I fear," said Mrs. Ashford, "but I'll tell you what we will do if you are willing. You set yours aside for Jennie and I will give you half of mine, and then we will all have some." Marty was afraid it would not be fair to have her mother make a sacrifice also, but Mrs. Ashford declared she should like it of all things, and was very glad Marty had thought of taking some berries to Jennie. So the strawberries were put in a basket with two glasses of jelly, some nice rusks that Katie was famous for making, and a closely-covered dish of chicken broth. Marty had her parcel ready, and they set out on their expedition. When they reached the house and knocked at the door of the room Mrs. Scott had directed them to, a weak but shrill voice cried out, "Come!" They entered a neat but poorly furnished room, of which the only occupant was a pale, thin girl, lying in what appeared to be a very uncomfortable position in bed. "I suppose you are Jennie," said Mrs. Ashford, with her pleasant smile. "Yes, ma'am," answered the girl, staring. "I am Mrs. Ashford. My little girl and I have come to see you." Jennie probably had few visitors, and she certainly did not know how to treat them. She did not ask her present ones to be seated, and merely continued to stare at them as well as she could stare in the doubled-up way she was lying. "Your mother is out to-day, is she?" said Mrs. Ashford. "Yes, but she's only gone for half a day. She ought to be home now," and then the poor child broke into a whining cry, saying, "I wish she'd come and fix me, for I'm all slid down, and give me some dinner." It is very hard to be polite and pleasant when you are faint, sick, and generally miserable. "Wont you let me fix you?" asked Mrs. Ashford. She put the basket on the table, and taking off her gloves, approached the bed.