“If you must know,” said Mrs. Callahan, “I lent them two dollars to the colored lady next door.  Her rent was due on Wednesday and she’ll get the money for her wash to-night.  I told Peggy not to tell you, for you’d told me so partic’lar not to spend a cent of that money—­but if you must know, you must.  She was needin’ it worse than me.”

“Is this the truth?” asked Miss Margery.

“It’s the gospel truth, ma’am,” declared Mrs. Callahan.  “You ask Mrs. Mooney, ma’am.”

As the two women promised faithfully to repay it on Monday, Miss Margery lent the lacking rent-money and then rose to go.

Meanwhile, Anne and Honey-Sweet were the centre of an admiring group.  Anne allowed the little Callahans one by one to touch Honey-Sweet and the older ones were even permitted to hold her for a minute.

As Honey-Sweet made the rounds of the group, she was followed admiringly by the beadlike, black eyes of Lois, the second from the baby.  She put out her chubby hand and solemnly touched the doll’s dress with her fingertip, saying over and over, “Pretty sweet Honey! pretty sweet Honey!” When Miss Margery said they must go, Lois caught Anne’s frock in her little fat hands and lisped, “Don’t go away, sweet Honey.  Stay here two, five minutes.”

Miss Margery smiled and patted the tangled curls.  “It is getting late, dearie, and we must hurry home,” she said.

But Lois followed them down the path, crying, “Wait, lady, wait.”  She smiled up into Anne’s face.  “I dess want kiss sweet Honey one time,” she said.  “I ain’t done kiss her yet.”  Then she pressed her lips on the lace-ruffled flounces and toddled back to the house.

CHAPTER XXVII

Several weeks passed during which Miss Margery saw nothing of the Callahans.  Mr. Callahan came back from the workhouse and, with fear of another term before his eyes, he managed to keep away from his old comrades and to provide for his family.  Anne saw Peggy at school and, with Cousin Dorcas’s permission, talked to her sometimes in recess and kept informed as to how many teeth the baby had and the new words Bud could say.  All the children had bad colds, Peggy said one day, “terrible bad, and the doctor he says mommer must keep the windows open and she lets ’em stay up while he’s there to pleasure him and shuts ’em soon as he goes away.”

The next day and for several days thereafter, Peggy was absent from school.  Anne looked eagerly forward to Saturday when she was to put on her old shoes—­she had new ones now—­and go with Miss Margery to inquire about the little Callahans.

Friday afternoon, however, brought Peggy to the door, asking for Anne.  It was an anxious-faced Peggy.  “I ain’t been to school ’cause Lois is sick,” she explained.  “She been sick all week and she gets no better all the time.  And she keeps on frettin’ to see that doll of yours.  She been talkin’ ’bout it ever since you was there.  And she say if she can just see that doll—­she don’t ask to touch it—­she’ll take her medicine.  That’s why she’s so bad off.  She won’t take her medicine.  And mommer sent word to know, won’t you please come over and bring your doll for her to see.”