“She is going to be a very satisfactory baby,” she announced; “just plump enough to cuddle comfortably.”

“Surely you will stop now, dear, and finish another time,” urged Miss Drayton, after the pieces were cut out and sewed together with firm, short, even stitches.  “You may not feel it, but I am sure you are tired—­and how tired you will be when you do feel it!”

“Indeed, no, Sarah,” said Mrs. Patterson.  “This rests me.  I’ve not thought about myself for an hour.  Why did you mention the tiresome subject?  That skirt must have another tuck, please.  And it needs lace at the bottom.  Just borrow some, dear, from any of my white things.  Now I must have some sawdust.”

The stewardess came to their help, and persuaded a steward to open a case of bottles and give her the sawdust in which they were packed.  Mrs. Patterson received it with an exclamation of delight and held out a silver coin in return.  But Vaughan put her hands behind her.

“Please’m,” she said, “it ain’t much.  But I wanted to do something for that poor little orphant.”

Mrs. Patterson smiled her thanks, then she pushed and shook and crammed the sawdust in place, taking a childlike eager interest in seeing the limp form grow shapely and firm.  This done, she consented to take luncheon and a nap, after which Miss Drayton brought Anne to make her acquaintance.  When Mrs. Patterson sent them out “for a whiff of fresh air,” she thrust into her sister’s hand a workbag with frilly white things to tuck and ruffle.  Then she drew out her box of colors.  Under her deft touches, now fast, now slow, the baby face grew life-like and lovable.

“She’s to be a comfort baby for a troubled little mother,” said Mrs. Patterson to herself.  “She must be one of the happy-looking babies that one always smiles at.”

And she was.  Her mouth curved upward in a smile that brought out a dear little dimple in the left cheek, and her big blue eyes crinkled at the corners with a smile climbing upward from the lips.  There were two shell-like little ears and some soft shadowy locks of hair, peeping out from under a lace-edged cap with strings tied under the chin.

When she was fitted out in the garments that Miss Drayton had fashioned, that lady exclaimed:  “Why, Emily, Emily!  You never painted a picture that was more beautiful.  That darling smile!  And the dimple!”

There was some debate as to when the doll should be presented and it was finally decided to give her as bed-time comfort.  Promptly at eight o’clock, Mrs. Patterson insisted on undressing Anne, while Miss Drayton and Vaughan hovered outside the open door.  Anne submitted rather unwillingly and took a long time to brush her teeth.  Then she knelt down to say her prayers.  After the

          “Now I lay me down to sleep”

there followed silence.  Indeed, she remained so long on her knees that Miss Drayton whispered to Mrs. Patterson a warning against standing and Vaughan moved to get a chair.  The whisper brought Anne to her feet.