
              ,,*APT] ;,,VI
       ,M>ILLA ,MAKES ,UP ,H] ,M9D

  ,GET "! !Y DID1 H["E1 9 DUE S1SON4 ,MRS4
,SP;ER LIV$ 9 A BIG YELL[ H\SE AT ,:ITE
,S&S ,COVE1 & %E CAME 6! DOOR ) SURPRISE &
WELCOME M+L$ ON H] 2NEVOL5T FACE4
  8,DE>1 DE>10 %E EXCLAIM$1 8Y'RE ! LA/
FOLKS ,I 0 LOOK+ = TD1 B ,I'M R1L GLAD
6SEE Y4 ,Y'LL PUT YR HORSE IN8 ,& H[ >E Y1
,ANNE80
  8,I'M Z WELL Z C 2 EXPECT$1 ?ANK Y10 SD
,ANNE SMILE.SLY4 ,A BLI<T SEEM$ 6H DESC5D$
ON H]4
  8,I SUPPOSE WE'LL /AY A LL :ILE 6RE/ !
M>E10 SD ,M>ILLA1 8B ,I PROMIS$ ,MAT!W
,I'D 2 HOME E>LY4 ,! FACT IS1 ,MRS4
,SP;ER1 "!'S BE5 A QUE] MISTAKE "S":1 &
,I'VE -E OV] 6SEE ": X IS4 ,WE S5D ^W1
,MAT!W & ,I1 = Y 6BR+ U A BOY F ! ASYLUM4,WE TOLD YR BRO!R ,ROB]T 6TELL Y WE    #FI
WANT$ A BOY T5 OR ELEV5 YE>S OLD40
  8,M>ILLA ,CU?B]T1 Y DON'T SAY S60 SD
,MRS4 ,SP;ER 9 4TRESS4 8,:Y1 ,ROB]T S5T ^W
D[N 0HIS DAU<T] ,NANCY & %E SD Y WANT$ A
GIRL--DIDN'T %E ,FLORA ,JANE80 APP1L+ 6H]
DAU<T] :O _H -E \ 6! /EPS4
  8,%E C]TA9LY DID1 ,MISS ,CU?B]T10
CORROBORAT$ ,FLORA ,JANE E>NE/LY4
  ,I'M DR1D;L SORRY10 SD ,MRS4 ,SP;ER4
8,X'S TOO BAD2 B X C]TA9LY WASN'T MY
FAULT1 Y SEE1 ,MISS ,CU?B]T4 ,I DID ! BE/
,I CD & ,I ?"\ ,I 0 FOLL[+ YR 9/RUC;NS4
,NANCY IS A T]RI# FLI<TY ?+4 ,I'VE (T5 _H
6SCOLD H] WELL = H] HE$.S;S40
  8,X 0 \R [N FAULT10 SD ,M>ILLA
RESIGN$LY4 8,WE %D H -E 6Y \RVS & N LEFT
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE 6BE PASS$ AL;G 0^W (
M\? 9 T FA%ION4 ,ANYH[1 ! MISTAKE HAS BE5
MADE &! ONLY ?+ 6D IS 6SET X "R4 ,C WE S5D
! * BACK 6! ASYLUM8 ,I SUPPOSE !Y'LL TAKE
H] BACK1 WON'T !Y80
  8,I SUPPOSE S10 SD ,MRS4 ,SP;ER ?"\;LLY1
8B ,I DON'T ?9K X W 2 NEC 6S5D H] BACK4
,MRS4 ,PET] ,BLEWETT 0 UP "H YE/]"D1 & %E0 SAY+ 6ME H[ M* %E WI%$ %E'D S5T      #GJ
0ME =A LL GIRL 6HELP H]4 ,MRS4 ,PET] HAS A
L>GE FAMILY1 Y "K1 & %E F9DS X H>D 6GET
HELP4 ,ANNE W 2 ! V GIRL = Y4 ,I CALL X
POSITIVELY PROVID5TIAL40
  ,M>ILLA DID N LOOK Z IF %E ?"\ ,PROVID;E
_H M* 6D )! MATT]4 ,"H 0 AN UNEXPECT$LY GD
*.E 6GET ? UNWELCOME ORPHAN (F H] H&S1 &
%E DID N EV5 FEEL GRATE;L = X4
  ,%E KNEW ,MRS4 ,PET] ,BLEWETT ONLY 0SI<T
Z A SMALL1 %REWI%-FAC$ WOMAN )\T AN \NCE (
SUP]FLU\S FLE% ON H] B"OS4 ,B %E _H HE>D (
H]4 8,A T]RI# "W] & DRIV]10 ,MRS4 ,PET] 0
SD 6BE2 & 4*>G$ S]VANT GIRLS TOLD FE>"S
TALES ( H] TEMP] & /+I;S1 & H] FAMILY (
P]T1 QU>REL"S *N4 ,M>ILLA FELT A QUALM (
3SCI;E AT ! ?"\ ( H&+ ,ANNE OV] 6H] T5D]
M]CIES4
  8,WELL1 ,I'LL G 9 & WE'LL TALK ! MATT]
OV]10 %E SD4
  8,& IF "! ISN'T ,MRS4 ,PET] -+ UP ! LANE
? B.S$ M9UTE60 EXCLAIM$ ,MRS4 ,SP;ER1
BU/L+ H] GUE/S "? ! HALL 96! P>LOR1 ": A
D1DLY *ILL /RUCK ON !M Z IF ! AIR _H BE5
/RA9$ S L;G "? D>K GRE51 CLOSELY DRAWN BLST X _H LO/ E "PICLE ( W>M? X _H "E     #GA
POSSESS$4 8,T IS R1L LUCKY1 = WE C SETTLE
! MATT] "R AWAY4 ,TAKE ! >M*AIR1 ,MISS
,CU?B]T4 ,ANNE1 Y SIT "H ON ! OTTOMAN &
DON'T WI7LE4 ,LET ME TAKE YR HATS4 ,FLORA
,JANE1 G \ & PUT ! KETTLE ON4 ,GD AFN1
,MRS4 ,BLEWETT4 ,WE 7 J SAY+ H[ =TUNATE X
0 Y HAPP5$ AL;G4 ,LET ME 9TRODUCE Y TWO
LADIES4 ,MRS4 ,BLEWETT1 ,MISS ,CU?B]T4
,PL1SE EXCUSE ME = J A MO;T4 ,I =GOT 6TELL
,FLORA ,JANE 6TAKE ! BUNS \ (! OV540
  ,MRS4 ,SP;ER :ISK$ AWAY1 AF PULL+ UP !
BLS4 ,ANNE SITT+ MUTELY ON ! OTTOMAN1 ) H]
H&S CLASP$ TI<TLY 9 H] LAP1 />$ AT ,MRS
,BLEWETT Z "O FASC9AT$4 ,0 %E 6BE GIV5 96!
KEEP+ ( ? %>P-FAC$1 %>P-EY$ WOMAN8 ,%E
FELT A LUMP -+ UP 9 H] ?ROAT & H] EYES
SM>T$ PA9;LLY4 ,%E 0 2G9N+ 6BE AFRAID %E
CDN'T KEEP ! TE>S BACK :5 ,MRS4 ,SP;ER
RETURN$1 FLU%$ & B1M+1 Q CAPA# ( TAK+ ANY
& E DI6ICULTY1 PHYSICAL1 M5TAL OR _SUAL1
963SID],N & SETTL+ X \ ( H&4
  8,X SEEMS "!'S BE5 A MISTAKE AB ? LL
GIRL1 ,MRS4 ,BLEWETT10 %E SD4 8,I 0 "U !
IMPRES.N T ,MR4 & ,MISS ,CU?B]T WANT$ A LLGIRL 6ADOPT4 ,I 0 C]TA9LY TOLD S4 ,B   #GB
X SEEMS X 0 A BOY !Y WANT$4 ,S IF Y'RE / (
! SAME M9D Y 7 YE/]"D1 ,I ?9K %E'LL 2 J !
?+ = Y40
  ,MRS4 ,BLEWETT D>T$ H] EYES OV] ,ANNE F
H1D 6FOOT4
  8,H[ OLD >E Y & :AT'S YR "N80 %E DEM&$4
  8,ANNE ,%IRLEY10 FALT]$ ! %R9K+ *1 N D>+
6MAKE ANY /IPUL,NS REG>D+ ! SPELL+ "!(1 8&
,I'M ELEV5 YE>S OLD40
  8,HUMPH6 ,Y DON'T LOOK Z IF "! 0 M* 6Y4
,B Y'RE WIRY4 ,I DON'T "K B ! WIRY "OS >E
! BE/ AF ALL4 ,WELL1 IF ,I TAKE Y Y'LL H
6BE A GD GIRL1 Y "K--GD & SM>T &
RESPECT;L4 ,I'LL EXPECT Y 6E>N YR KEEP1 &
NO MISTAKE AB T4 ,YES1 ,I SUPPOSE ,I MI<T
Z WELL TAKE H] (F YR H&S1 ,MISS ,CU?B]T4
,! BABY'S AW;L FRACTI\S1 & ,I'M CL1N WORN
\ ATT5D+ 6HM4 ,IF Y L ,I C TAKE H] "R HOME
N[40
  ,M>ILLA LOOK$ AT ,ANNE & S(T5$ AT SI<T (
! *'S PALE FACE ) XS LOOK ( MUTE MIS]Y--!
MIS]Y (A HELP.S LL CR1TURE :O F9DS XF ONCE
M CAU<T 9 ! TRAP F : X _H ESCAP$4 ,M>ILLA
FELT AN UNCOM=TA# 3VIC;N T1 IF %E D5I$ !APP1L ( T LOOK1 X WD HAUNT H] 6H]      #GC
DY+ "D4 ,MOREOV]1 %E DID N FANCY ,MRS4
,BLEWETT4 ,6H& A S5SITIVE1 8HI</RUNG0 *
OV] 6S* A WOMAN6 ,NO1 %E CD N TAKE !
RESPONSIBIL;Y ( DO+ T6
  8,WELL1 ,I DON'T "K10 %E SD SL[LY4 8,I
DIDN'T SAY T ,MAT!W & ,I _H ABSOLUTELY
DECID$ T WE WDN'T KEEP H]4 ,9 FACT ,I MAY
SAY T ,MAT!W IS 4POS$ 6KEEP H]4 ,I J CAME
OV] 6F9D \ H[ ! MISTAKE _H O3URR$4 ,I ?9K
,I'D BETT] TAKE H] HOME AG & TALK X OV] )
,MAT!W4 ,I FEEL T ,I "\N'T 6DECIDE ON
ANY?+ )\T 3SULT+ HM4 ,IF WE MAKE UP \R M9D
N 6KEEP H] WE'LL BR+ OR S5D H] OV] 6Y TM
NI<T4 ,IF WE DON'T Y MAY "K T %E IS GO+
6/AY ) U4 ,W T SUIT Y1 ,MRS4 ,BLEWETT80
  8,I SUPPOSE X'LL H TO10 SD ,MRS4
,BLEWETT UNGRACI\SLY4
  ,DUR+ ,M>ILLA'S SPEE* A SUNRISE _H BE5
DAWN+ ON ,ANNE'S FACE4 ,F/ ! LOOK (
DESPAIR FAD$ \2 !N CAME A FA9T FLU% (
HOPE2 "H EYES GREW DEEP & B"R Z MORN+ />S4
,! * 0 Q TRANSFIGUR$2 &1 A MO;T LAT]1 :5
,MRS4 ,SP;ER & ,MRS4 ,BLEWETT W5T \ 9 QUE/
(A RECIPE ! LATT] _H -E 6BORR[ %E SPRANGUP & FLEW ACR ! ROOM 6,M>ILLA4         #GD
  8,OH1 ,MISS ,CU?B]T1 DID Y RE,Y SAY T
P]H Y WD LET ME /AY AT ,GRE5 ,GA#S80 %E
SD1 9 A BR1?.S :ISP]1 Z IF SP1K+ AL\D MI<T
%ATT] ! GLORI\S POSSIBIL;Y4 8,DID Y RE,Y
SAY X8 ,OR DID ,I ONLY IMAG9E T Y DID80
  8,I ?9K Y'D BETT] LE>N 63TROL T IMAG9,N
( YRS1 ,ANNE1 IF Y C'T 4T+UI% 2T :AT IS
R1L & :AT ISN'T10 SD ,M>ILLA CROSSLY4
8,YES1 Y DID HE> ME SAY J T & NO M4 ,X
ISN'T DECID$ YET & P]H WE W 3CLUDE 6LET
,MRS4 ,BLEWETT TAKE Y AF ALL4 ,%E C]TA9LY
NE$S Y M* M ?AN ,I D40
  8,I'D R G BACK 6! ASYLUM ?AN G 6LIVE )
H]10 SD ,ANNE PAS.NATELY4 8,%E LOOKS
EXACTLY L A--L A GIMLET40
  ,M>ILLA S"M$ A SMILE "U ! 3VIC;N T ,ANNE
M/ 2 REPROV$ = S* A SPEE*4
  8,A LL GIRL L Y %D 2 A%AM$ ( TALK+ S AB
A LADY &A /RANG]10 %E SD SEV]ELY4 8,G BACK
& SIT D[N QUIETLY & HOLD YR T;GUE & 2HAVE
Z A GD GIRL %D40
  8,I'LL TRY 6D & 2 ANY?+ Y WANT ME1 IF
Y'LL ONLY KEEP ME10 SD ,ANNE1 RETURN+
MEEKLY 6H] OTTOMAN4  ,:5 !Y >RIV$ BACK AT ,GRE5 ,GA#S T   #GE
EV5+ ,MAT!W MET !M 9 ! LANE4 ,M>ILLA F AF>
_H NOT$ HM PR[L+ AL;G X & GUESS$ 8 MOTIVE4
,%E 0 PREP>$ =! RELIEF %E R1D 9 8 FACE :5
HE SAW T %E _H AT L1/ BR"\ BACK ,ANNE BACK
) H]4 ,B %E SD NO?+1 6HM1 RELATIVE 6!
A6AIR1 UNTIL !Y 7 BO? \ 9 ! Y>D 2H ! B>N
MILK+ ! C[S4 ,!N %E BRIEFLY TOLD HM
,ANNE'S HI/ORY &! RESULT (! 9T]VIEW )
,MRS4 ,SP;ER4
  8,I WDN'T GIVE A DOG ,I LIK$ 6T ,BLEWETT
WOMAN10 SD ,MAT!W ) UNUSUAL VIM40
  8,I DON'T FANCY H] /YLE MYF10 ADMITT$
,M>ILLA1 8B X'S T OR KEEP+ H] \RVS1
,MAT!W4 ,& S9CE Y SEEM 6WANT H]1 ,I
SUPPOSE ,I'M WILL+--OR H 6BE4 ,I'VE BE5
?9K+ OV] ! IDEA UNTIL ,I'VE GOT K9D ( US$
6X4 ,X SEEMS A SORT ( DUTY4 ,I'VE N"E BR"\
UP A *1 ESPECI,Y A GIRL1 & ,I D>E SAY
,I'LL MAKE A T]RI# MESS ( X4 ,B ,I'LL D MY
BE/4 ,S F> Z ,I'M 3C]N$1 ,MAT!W1 %E MAY
/AY40
  ,MAT!W'S %Y FACE 0 A GL[ ( DELI<T4
  8,WELL N[1 ,I RECKON$ Y'D -E 6SEE X 9 T
LI<T1 ,M>ILLA10 HE SD4 8,%E'S S* AN 9T]E/+LL ?+40                                #GF
  8,X'D 2 M 6! PO9T IF Y CD SAY %E 0 A
USE;L LL ?+10 RETORT$ ,M>ILLA1 8B ,I'LL
MAKE X MY BUSI;S 6SEE %E'S TRA9$ 6BE T4 ,&
M9D1 ,MAT!W1 Y'RE N 6G 9T]F]+ ) MY ME?ODS4
,P]H AN OLD MAID DOESN'T "K M* AB BR++ UP
A *1 B ,I GUESS %E "KS M ?AN AN OLD
BA*ELOR4 ,S Y J L1VE ME 6MANAGE H]4 ,:5 ,I
FAIL X'LL 2 "T 5 6PUT YR O> IN40
  8,"!1 "!1 ,M>ILLA1 Y C H YR [N WAY10 SD
,MAT!W REASSUR+LY4 8,ONLY 2 Z GD & K9D 6H]
Z Y C )\T SPOIL+ H]4 ,I K9D ( ?9K %E'S "O
(! SORT Y C D ANY?+ ) IF Y ONLY GET H]
6LOVE Y40
  ,M>ILLA SNI6$1 6EXPRESS H] 3TEMPT =
,MAT!W'S OP9IONS 3C]N+ ANY?+ FEM99E1 &
WALK$ (F 6! DAIRY )! PAILS4
  8,I WON'T TELL H] TN T %E C /AY10 %E
REFLECT$1 Z %E /RA9$ ! MILK 96! CR1M]S4
8,%E'D 2 S EXCIT$ T %E WDN'T SLEEP A W9K4
,M>ILLA ,CU?B]T1 Y'RE FAIRLY 9 = X4 ,DID Y
"E SUPPOSE Y'D SEE ! "D :5 Y'D 2 ADOPT+ AN
ORPHAN GIRL8 ,X'S SURPRIS+ 5\<2 B N S
SURPRIS+ Z T ,MAT!W %D 2 AT ! BOTTOM ( X1
HM T ALW SEEM$ 6H S* A MORTAL DR1D ( LLGIRLS4 ,ANYH[1 WE'VE DECID$ ON !       #GG
EXP]I;T & GD;S ONLY "KS :AT W -E ( X40
