“Don’t,” she said, “there is a duster in the cupboard.”

Katy could not help smiling, but she found the duster, and proceeded to put the rest of the room into nice order, laying a fresh towel over the bedside table, and arranging watch, medicine, and spoon within reach.  Miss Jane lay and watched her.  I think she was as much surprised at herself for permitting all this, as Katy was at being permitted to do it.  Sick people often consent because they feel too weak to object.  After all, it was comfortable to have some one come in and straighten the things which for ten days past had vexed her neat eyes with their untidiness.

Lastly, smoothing the quilt, Katy asked if Miss Jane wouldn’t like to have her pillow shaken up?

“I don’t care,” was the answer.  It sounded discouraging; but Katy boldly seized the pillow, beat, smoothed, and put it again in place.  Then she went out of the room as noiselessly as she could, Miss Jane never saying, “Thank you,” or seeming to observe whether she went or stayed.

Rose Red and Clover could hardly believe their ears when told where she had been.  They stared at her as people stare at Van Amburgh when he comes safely out of the lion’s den.

“My stars!” exclaimed Rose, drawing a long breath.  “You didn’t really?  And she hasn’t bitten your head off!”

“Not a bit,” said Katy, laughing.  “What’s more, I’m going again.”

She was as good as her word.  After that she went to see Miss Jane very often.  Almost always there was some little thing which she could do, the fire needed mending, or the pitcher to be filled with ice-water, or Miss Jane wanted the blinds opened or shut.  Gradually she grew used to seeing Katy about the room.  One morning she actually allowed her to brush her hair; and Katy’s touch was so light and pleasant that afterwards Miss Jane begged her to do it every day.

“What makes you such a good nurse?” she asked one afternoon, rather abruptly.

“Being sick myself,” replied Katy, gently.  Then in answer to farther questioning, she told of her four years’ illness, and her life upstairs, keeping house and studying lessons all alone by herself.  Miss Jane did not say any thing when she got through; but Katy fancied she looked at her in a new and kinder way.

So time went on till Christmas.  It fell on a Friday that year, which shortened the holidays by a day, and disappointed many of the girls.  Only a few went home, the rest were left to pass the time as best they might till Monday, when lessons were to begin again.

“It isn’t much like merry Christmas,” sighed Clover to herself, as she looked up at the uncottoned space at the top of the window, and saw great snow-flakes wildly whirling by.  No. 2 felt cold and dreary, and she was glad to exchange it for the school-room, round whose warm stove a cluster of girls was huddling.  Everybody was in bad spirits; there was a tendency to talk about home, and the nice time which people were having there, and the very bad time they themselves were having at the Nunnery.