"
Miss Margery saw that it was useless to protest. "I think I ought not to
give you any money, Mrs. Callahan," she said, rising to go. "You had it
in your hand and you spent it. If we give in such cases as this, we will
not have funds to meet real need."
"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.
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