I can't scold her, for I know she misses her brother, who was always very tender and considerate in his treatment of her." "I appreciate the difficulties which surround you, and believe that you are conscientiously striving to do your duty towards these children; but I knew that if I compelled Stanley to return it would augment instead of correcting the mischief." At this juncture the matron was summoned from the room, and, during the silence that ensued, Jessie climbed into her sister's lap, wound her thin arms around her neck, and softly rubbed her pale cheek against the polished rosy face, where perplexity and annoyance were legibly written. "Salome, don't you love me a little?" "Of course I do; Jessie, don't be so foolish." "Please let me go with you and Stanley." "Do you want to starve,--you poor silly thing?" "Yes; I would rather starve with Buddie than stay here by myself." "I want to hear no more of such nonsense. You have not tried starving, and you are too young to know what is really for your good. Now, listen to me. At present I am obliged to leave you here,--come, don't begin crying again; but, if you will be a good girl and try not to fret over what cannot be helped, I promise you that just as soon as I can possibly support you I will take you to live with me." "How long must I wait?" "Until I make money enough to feed and clothe you." "Can't you guess when you can come for me?" "No, for as yet I know not how I can earn a dollar; but, if you will be patient, I promise to work hard for you and Stanley." "I will be good. Salome, I have saved a quarter of a dollar that the doctor gave me when I was sick,--because I let the blister stay on my side a half hour longer; and I thought I would send it to Buddie, to buy him some marbles or a kite; but I reckon I had better give it to you to help us get a house." She drew from her pocket a green calico bag, and, emptying the contents into her hand, picked out from among brass buttons and bits of broken glass a silver coin, which she held up triumphantly. "No, Jessie,--keep it. Stanley has plenty of playthings, and you may need it. Besides, your quarter would not go far, and I don't want it. Good-bye, little darling. Try to give Mrs. Collins no trouble, and recollect that when I promise you anything I shall be sure to keep my word." Salome drew the child's head to her shoulder, and, as she bent over and kissed the sweet, pure lips, Jessie whispered, "When we say our prayers to-night, we will ask God to send us some money to buy a home, won't we? You know he made the birds feed Elijah." "But we are not prophets, and ravens are not flying about with bags of money under their wings."