Jean was commissioned to go the next morning to break the news to Bettie. It seemed to Dr. Bennett and to the hopeful Cottagers that this important happening would surely rouse the listless little maid if anything could. Mr. Black, who arrived with a great bunch of violets while Jean was telling the wonderful tale as graphically as she could, expectantly watched Bettie's pale countenance. Her wistful, weary eyes brightened for a moment and a faint, tender smile flickered across her lips. "I'm glad," said she. "Now Mrs. Crane won't have to have whooping cough and all the other things." "Mrs. Crane is going to find work for Rosa Marie's mother," announced Jean, "and the shanty is to be mended." "That's nice," returned Bettie, who, however, no longer seemed interested in Rosa Marie's mother. "But my ears are tired now; don't tell me any more." After this failure, Mr. Black followed crestfallen Jean downstairs; he drew her into the shabby Rectory parlor. "Now, Jean," demanded he, sternly, "is there a solitary thing in this whole world that Bettie wants? Is there anything that could _possibly_ happen that would wake her up and bring her back? I'm dreadfully afraid she's slipping away from us, Jean; and she's far too precious to lose. Now think--think _hard_, little girl. Has she _ever_ wanted anything?" "Why," responded Jean, slowly, as if some outside force were dragging the words from her, "right after Christmas there _was_ something, I think. A big, impossible something that _nobody_ could possibly help. She didn't talk about it--and yet--and yet---- Perhaps she did worry." "Go on," insisted Mr. Black, "I want it all." "She seemed to get used to the idea so--so uncomplainingly. Still, she may have cared more than anybody suspected. She's _like_ that--never cries when she's hurt." "What idea?" demanded Mr. Black. "Cared for what? Make it clear, child." "You see," explained Jean, "all of us--Henrietta, Marjory, Mabel and I--have been talking a great deal about going away to boarding school--we're all going. But Bettie--Bettie, of course, knew that she couldn't go. There was no money and her father said----" "And why in thunder," shouted Mr. Black, forgetting the invalid and striding up and down the room with his fists clenched, "didn't somebody say so? What do folks think the good Lord _gave_ us money for? Why didn't--Come upstairs. We'll settle this thing right now." Impulsive Mr. Black, with dazed Jean at his heels, opened Bettie's door and walked in. Bettie lifted her tired eyes in very mild astonishment. "Bad pennies," she smiled, "always come back. What's all the noise about?" "Bettie," demanded Mr. Black, "do you want to go away to school with those other girls next September?" Bettie opened her eyes wide. Jean said afterwards that she "pricked up her ears," too.