"What is it, dear?" Miss Theodosia cried anxiously. The little word of endearment slipped out unconsciously, though she was not used to "dears." But she was not used to this, either--this rocking in anguish of a little child in her great chair. "Can't you stop crying and tell me?" Evangeline not able to talk! Miss Theodosia was actually alarmed. If speech did not return quickly--but speech returned. "Oh, mercy gracious me!" Evangeline sobbed, rocking harder, "to think I went an' set him right down in the middle of 'em--right slap in the middle! An' he didn't want to be set down. Elly Precious despises the Benjamin baby. He knows he's a girl, an' girl-babies don't count. But I set him down--oh, mercy gracious me, I went an' set him down, slap!" Sobs and words collided and inextricably mixed. In the dark Miss Theodosia waited; she saw no light as yet. "If I could only have 'em--if I only had've, anyway! Then I could take care of my darlin' dear. But Elly Precious's is the only measles we ever had in the family." Ah, light! Miss Theodosia blinked in the sudden inflow of it. Evangeline's released tongue leaped ahead. "How'd I know the Benjamin baby had 'em when she only just sneezed? Oh, I suppose she sneezed 'em all around, an' I set Elly Precious down in 'em! Right in a nest o' measles!" "What was Elly Precious doing there? I don't remember any Benjamins." "No'm--oh, no'm. They're very recent. It's that house with the baby-pen in the front yard to keep their baby in. I set Elly Precious down in it, too, one day." Evangeline shuddered. "While I was gettin' Stefana's starch at the store; I asked if I could, till I got back." Miss Theodosia's face put on sternness. "What was the mother of the Benjamin baby thinking of, to let you?" she demanded. "Oh, I don't know--I don't know! That's a very speckled baby, anyway, an' perhaps she didn't know measles from speckles. He didn't bloom out reg'lar built till next day--I mean she didn't--oh, I don't mean the mother didn't--" "I know, dear; I know what you mean," soothed Miss Theodosia gently. "Yes'm, that's what I mean. Next day they found out for sure." "But have you found out 'for sure'? How do you know Elly Precious has the measles? Has he--bloomed out? Perhaps his are speck--" "Elly Precious!" rose Evangeline's voice of indignation. "He's the unspeckledest baby you ever saw! I guess--I guess you never saw Elly Precious!" Stefana appeared suddenly in the doorway,--a blanched and frightened Stefana. But she was determinedly calm. "He's fell asleep, and Carruthers is watching him through the door. I told him not to go any nearer'n that. I came over to ask if I'd better send word to Mother. He said to ask you." "Carruthers?" Miss Theodosia was a little bewildered. "The Tract Man. He's the one that--that discovered Elly Precious's measles when we found he was broken out--I mean Elly Precious broken out--"