response and the words of the Scripture, quoted
or read by the minister, or held in the messages
of the Christmas hymns that had been chosen,
had their effect on Betty. It would all come
right. Why not take it all to the heavenly
Father in prayer, as the preacher suggested,
and leave it there, so far as worry was con-
cerned?

That afternoon Betty went up with Lucia to
see Grandmother Ferris again, at Countess
Coletti's suggestion. “She asked for 'Mary'
this morning,” said the countess. The girls
found Mrs. Ferris in bed, the two dolls in a
light single bed not far away.

She looked very white and weak, but held
out a welcoming hand. Then she put her finger
to her lips to caution them. “Speak gently,”
said she. “'Willie' and 'Josie' have just gone
to sleep.” She called Betty 'Mary' again and
spoke of her hair. “Mary, you always had such
pretty hair!”

The girls remained only a short time and
Lucia had tears in her eyes as they went out
into the hall. “It's a good thing that I happened
to join the Lyon 'Y',” said Lucia, “and bought
those dolls.”

“I wonder if things just 'happen,'” suggested
Betty.

[[116]]

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