When they came out of the shop, even Kate, extravagant as she was, was aghast. "Noel, it’s w-wicked to spend money like that. Why, that child is only a b-baby. She can’t appreciate all those hand-made clothes for that doll. And real lace! It’s absurd!" "Kate," said St. Quentin, slowly, "if you were that crippled baby, I’d have bought you everything in that whole shop!" A lump came into Kate’s throat so suddenly that it choked her. When they arrived at Mrs. Goddard’s, there was no need to ask the butler if the ladies were at home, for, instead of the formal household Mrs. Goddard used to boast, the house seemed now to have become a home. Even the butler looked human, as laughter and childish screams of delight floated down the hall from the second floor. "Perkins, what is it?" asked Kate, pausing suddenly. "Little Miss Gladys finds that she can stand alone, Miss Howard, and we are so delighted none of the servants can be got to do their work. They just stand around and gape at her and clap their hands." But Perkins himself was smiling as Kate rushed past him up the stairs. "Here, Perkins, my man," said St. Quentin, "lend a hand with this, will you, and send a footman out to the motor for the rest of those parcels." The sight which met the eye was enough to make any one’s heart leap, as Kate flung open the door and joined the group. There were Mrs. Goddard, Rosemary, Miss Sue Yancey, Carolina, and the two children, Emmeline and Gladys. Gladys was standing in the corner, partly supporting herself by leaning in the angle of the walls, but standing, nevertheless, bearing her entire weight upon her slender, beautiful little feet, which never before had been of any use to her, nor, in their distorted position, even sightly. Now they were in a normal position and actually bearing her weight, and so excited was everybody that no one turned even to give the newcomers a greeting. Rosemary and Carolina were kneeling on the floor in front of the child, while Mrs. Goddard was audibly affirming that Gladys could walk. Gladys alone looked up at Kate and St. Quentin, and smiled a welcome. "Thee, Katie!" she lisped, "Gladyth can thtand alone!" "Gladys can walk," affirmed Mrs. Goddard, and, as they saw the child cautiously begin to remove her hands from the supporting walls and evidently intend to attempt a step, Kate snatched the huge box from Noel’s hands, and, hastily unfastening it, silently held up before her a gorgeously beautiful French doll, in a long baby dress, frilled and trimmed with cobweb lace, and calculated not only to set a child crazy, but to turn the heads of the grown-ups, for such a doll is not often seen.