So busy was she that she did not hear Mrs. Haddon reënter the room. Neither did she know that the latter was staring unbelievingly over her shoulder till a slight exclamation of wonder made her start and whirl round suddenly. “Where did you get all that?” asked the woman, her eyes still fixed on the contents of the basket. “And what is it for?” “It’s—it’s for you—if you will take it, please,” stammered Billie, in her surprise and confusion saying what came first to her mind. “We—we thought maybe—maybe the kiddies would like the beef tea and milk and—and—things——” she finished weakly, thinking resentfully that the girls, or one of them anyway, might have stayed and helped her out. But after all, she need not have worried. For an instant the look that Billie had expected and dreaded flared into Polly Haddon’s eyes—a look of outraged pride. But then the woman thought of the children—and she had no pride. “You said you brought some beef tea?” she repeated, bending eagerly over the basket. “And milk?” “Two quarts of milk,” cried Billie, joyfully, the relief she felt singing in her voice. “And we made the beef tea fresh this morning. Why—why—what’s the matter?” For Polly Haddon’s black eyes had filled with tears and she had turned away impatiently to hide them. Beneath the worn old shawl, her thin shoulders shook in an effort to suppress her hysterical sobs. Then Billie ran to her and put her young arms around her and Polly Haddon, who had struggled so long and so bravely alone, clung to the girl hungrily while she fought for self-control. “It’s so long!” she said huskily, “so long since any one did anything for us—for my babies——” Her voice broke, and for a minute she just clung to Billie and let tears wash some of the bitterness from her heart. Then she straightened up suddenly, wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief that Billie had slipped into her hand, and holding the girl off at arm’s length regarded her intently. “It seems,” said the woman softly, while Billie looked up at her out of clear, grave eyes, “that when things get as bad as they can be the Lord sends somebody to help. This time he sent you. Hark! What’s that?” It was only the restless turning of a feverish little body in bed, but the mother was instantly alert. “The beef tea!” she directed, and Billie quickly handed her one of the bottles. “He has had hardly any real nourishment since day before yesterday,” Polly Haddon went on as she poured the liquid into one of the pans on the stove and sniffed of it hungrily. “Strong beef tea is just what the little fellow needs.” Billie wondered while she watched Mrs. Haddon with pitying eyes. No nourishment for almost two days! Why, if they had not come the children might have starved to death! “Where are the two little girls?” she asked, remembering suddenly that she had seen no sign of them.