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              ,LL ,FAI?;L

  ,,=A WEEK ! AM.T ( VIRTUE 9 ! OLD H\SE
WD H SUPPLI$ ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,X 0 RE,Y
AMAZ+1 = E "O SEEM$ 9 A H1V5LY FRAME (
M9D1 & SELF-D5IAL 0 ALL ! FA%ION4
,RELIEV$ ( _! F/ ANXIETY AB _! "F1 !
GIRLS 9S5SIBLY RELAX$ _! PRAISEWOR?Y
EF=TS A LL1 & 2GAN 6FALL BACK 96! OLD
WAYS4 ,!Y DID N =GET _! MOTTO1 B HOP+ &
KEEP+ BUSY SEEM$ 6GR[ EASI]2 & AF S*
TREM5D\S EX];NS1 !Y FELT T ,5D1VOR
DES]V$ A HOLI"D1 & GAVE X A GD _M4
  ,JO CAU<T A BAD COLD "? NEGLECT 6COV]
! %ORN H1D 5\<1 & 0 ORD]$ 6/AY AT HOME
TILL %E 0 BETT]1 = ,AUNT ,M>* DIDN'T L
6HE> P R1D ) COLDS 9 _! H1DS4 ,JO LIK$
?1 & AF AN 5]GETIC RUMMAGE F G>RET
6CELL>1 SUBSID$ ON ! S(A 6NURSE H] COLD
) >S5ICUM & BOOKS4 ,AMY F.D T H\SE"W &
>T DID N G WELL TGR1 & RETURN$ 6H] MUD
PIES4 ,MEG W5T DAILY 6H] PUPILS1 & SEW$1
OR ?"\ %E DID1 AT HOME1 B M* "T 0 SP5T 9
WRIT+ L;G LRS 6H] "M1 OR R1D+ ! ,WA%+TON
DESPAT*ES OV] & OV]4 ,BE? KEPT ON1 )
ONLY SLI<T RELAPSES 96IDLE;S OR GRIEV+4
  ,ALL ! LL DUTIES 7 FAI?;LLY D"O EA*
"D1 & _M ( H] SI/]S' AL1 = !Y 7 =GET;L1
&! H\SE SEEM$ L A CLOCK ^: P5DULUM 0 G"O
A-VISIT+4 ,:5 H] HE>T GOT H1VY ) L;G+S =
"M OR FE>S = "F1 %E W5T AWAY 96A C]TA9
CLOSET1 HID H] FACE 9 ! FOLDS (A C]TA9
DE> OLD G[N1 & MADE H] LL MOAN & PRAY$
H] LL PRAY] QUIETLY 0H]F4 ,NOBODY KNEW
:AT *E]$ H] UP AF A SOB] FIT1 B E "O
FELT H[ SWEET & HELP;L ,BE? WAS1 & FELL
96A WAY ( GO+ 6H] = -=T OR ADVICE 9 _!
SMALL A6AIRS4
  ,ALL 7 UNCONSCI\S T ? EXP]I;E 0 A TE/
( "*2 &1 :5 ! F/ EXCITE;T 0 OV]1 FELT T
!Y _H D"O WELL1 & DES]V$ PRAISE4 ,S !Y
DID2 B _! MISTAKE 0 9 C1S+ 6D WELL1 & !Y
LE>N$ ? LESSON "? M* ANXIETY & REGRET4
  8,MEG1 ,I WI% Y'D G & SEE ! ,HUMMELS2
Y "K "M TOLD U N 6=GET !M10 SD ,BE?1 T5
"DS AF ,MRS4 ,M>*'S DE"PURE4

8,I'M TOO TIR$ 6G ? AFN10 REPLI$ ,MEG1
  ROCK+
-=TABLY Z %E SEW$4

  8,C'T Y1 ,JO80 ASK$ ,BE?4
  8,TOO /ORMY = ME ) MY COLD40
  8,I ?"\ X 0 ALM WELL40
  8,X'S WELL 5 = ME 6G \ ) ,LAURIE1 B N
WELL 5 6G 6! ,HUMMELS'10 SD ,JO1 LAU<+1
B LOOK+ A LL A%AM$ ( H] 9CONSI/5CY4
  8,:Y DON'T Y G YRF80 ASK$ ,MEG4
  8,I H BE5 E "D1 B ! BABY IS SICK1 & ,I
DON'T "K :AT 6D = X4 ,MRS4 ,HUMMEL GOES
AWAY 6"W1 & ,LOTT*5 TAKES C>E ( X2 B X
GETS SICK] & SICK]1 & ,I ?9K Y OR
,HANNAH "\ 6G40
  ,BE? SPOKE E>NE/LY1 & ,MEG PROMIS$ %E
WD G TM4
  8,ASK ,HANNAH = "S NICE LL MESS1 &
TAKE X R.D1 ,BE?2 ! AIR W D Y GD10 SD
,JO1 A4+ APOLOGETIC,Y1 8,I'D G1 B ,I
WANT 6F9I% MY WRIT+40
  8,MY H1D A*ES & ,I'M TIR$1 S ,I ?"\
MAYBE "S ( Y WD G10 SD ,BE?4

8,AMY W 2 9 PRES5TLY1 & %E W RUN D[N =
  U10
SU7E/$ ,MEG4

  8,WELL1 ,I'LL RE/ A LL & WAIT = H]40
  ,S ,BE? LAY D[N ON ! S(A1 ! O!RS
RETURN$ 6_! "W1 &! ,HUMMELS 7 =GOTT54
,AN H\R PASS$3 ,AMY DID N -E2 ,MEG W5T
6H] ROOM 6TRY ON A NEW DRESS2 ,JO 0
ABSORB$ 9 H] /ORY1 & ,HANNAH 0 S.D
ASLEEP 2F ! KIT*5 FIRE1 :5 ,BE? QUIETLY
PUT ON H] HOOD1 FILL$ H] BASKET ) O4S &
5DS =! POOR *N1 & W5T \ 96! *ILLY AIR1
)A H1VY H1D1 &A GRIEV$ LOOK 9 H] PATI5T
EYES4 ,X 0 LATE :5 %E CAME BACK1 & NO "O
SAW H] CREEP UP/AIRS & %UT H]F 96H] "M'S
ROOM4 ,HALF AN H\R AF ,JO W5T TO 8"M'S
CLOSET0 = "S?+1 & "! F.D ,BE? SITT+ ON !
M$IC9E *E/1 LOOK+ V GRAVE1 ) R$ EYES1 &A
CAMPHOR-BOTTLE 9 H] H&4
  8,*RI/OPH] ,COLUMBUS6 ,:AT'S ! MATT]80
CRI$ ,JO1 Z ,BE? PUT \ H] H& Z IF 6W>N
H] (F1 & ASK$ QKLY- 8,Y'VE _H ! SC>LET
FEV]1 HAV5'T Y80
  8,YE>S AGO1 :5 ,MEG DID4 ,:Y80
  8,!N ,I'LL TELL Y4 ,OH1 ,JO1 ! BABY'S
D1D60
  8,:AT BABY80
  8,MRS4 ,HUMMEL'S2 X DI$ 9 MY LAP 2F %E
GOT HOME10 CRI$ ,BE?1 )A SOB4
  8,MY POOR DE>1 H[ DR1D;L = Y6 ,I "\ 6H
G"O10 SD ,JO1 TAK+ H] SI/] 9 H] >MS Z %E
SAT D[N 9 H] "M'S BIG *AIR1 )A REMORSE;L
FACE4
  8,X WASN'T DR1D;L1 ,JO1 ONLY S SAD6 ,I
SAW 9 A M9UTE T X 0 SICK]1 B ,LOTT*5 SD
H] "M _H G"O =A DOCTOR1 S ,I TOOK BABY &
LET ,LOTTY RE/4 ,X SEEM$ ASLEEP1 B ALL
(A SU45 X GAVE A LL CRY1 & TREM#D1 & !N
LAY V /4 ,I TRI$ 6W>M XS FEET1 & ,LOTTY
GAVE X "S MILK1 B X DIDN'T /IR1 & ,I
KNEW X 0 D1D40
  8,DON'T CRY1 DE>6 ,:AT DID Y D80
  8,I J SAT & HELD X S(TLY TILL ,MRS4
,HUMMEL CAME )! DOCTOR4 ,HE SD X 0 D1D1
& LOOK$ AT ,HE9RI* & ,M9NA1 :O H GOT
SORE ?ROATS4 ,8,SC>LET FEV]1 MA'AM4 ,"\
6H CALL$ ME 2F10' HE SD CROSSLY4 ,MRS4
,HUMMEL TOLD HM %E 0 POOR1 & _H TRI$
6CURE BABY H]F1 B N[ X 0 TOO LATE1 & %E
CD ONLY ASK HM 6HELP ! O!RS1 & TRU/
6*>;Y = 8 PAY4 ,HE SMIL$ !N1 & 0 K9D]2 B
X 0 V SAD1 & ,I CRI$ ) !M TILL HE TURN$
R.D1 ALL (A SU451 & TOLD ME 6G HOME &
TAKE BELLADONNA "R AWAY1 OR ,I'D H !
FEV]40
  8,NO1 Y WON'T60 CRI$ ,JO1 HU7+ H]
CLOSE1 )A F"R5$ LOOK4
  8,O ,BE?1 IF Y %D 2 SICK ,I N"E CD
=GIVE MYF6 ,:AT % WE D80
  8,DON'T 2 F"R5$1 ,I GUESS ,I %AN'T H X
BADLY4 ,I LOOK$ 9 "M'S BOOK1 & SAW T X
2G9S ) H1DA*E1 SORE ?ROAT1 & QUE] FEEL+S
L M9E1 S ,I DID TAKE "S BELLADONNA1 & ,I
FEEL BETT]10 SD ,BE?1 LAY+ H] COLD H&S
ON H] HOT =EH1D1 & TRY+ 6LOOK WELL4
  8,IF "M 0 ONLY AT HOME60 EXCLAIM$ ,JO1
SEIZ+ ! BOOK1 & FEEL+ T ,WA%+TON 0 AN
IMM5SE WAY (F4 ,%E R1D A PAGE1 LOOK$ AT
,BE?1 FELT H] H1D1 PEEP$ 96H] ?ROAT1 &
!N SD GRAVELY1 8,Y'VE BE5 OV] ! BABY E
"D = M ?AN A WEEK1 & AM;G ! O!RS :O >E
GO+ 6H X2 S ,I'M AFRAID Y >E GO+ 6H X1
,BE?4 ,I'LL CALL ,HANNAH1 %E "KS ALL AB
SICK;S40
  8,DON'T LET ,AMY -E2 %E N"E _H X1 & ,I
%D HATE 6GIVE X 6H]4 ,C'T Y & ,MEG H X
OV] AG80 ASK$ ,BE?1 ANXI\SLY4
  8,I GUESS N2 DON'T C>E IF ,I D2 S]VE
ME "R1 SELFI% PIG1 6LET Y G1 & /AY WRIT+
RU2I% MYF60 MUTT]$ ,JO1 Z %E W5T 63SULT
,HANNAH4
  ,! GD S\L 0 WIDE AWAKE 9 A M9UTE1 &
TOOK ! L1D AT ONCE1 ASSUR+ ,JO T "! 0 NO
NE$ 6WORRY2 E "O _H SC>LET FEV]1 &1 IF
"RLY TR1T$1 NOBODY DI$- ALL ( : ,JO
2LIEV$1 & FELT M* RELIEV$ Z !Y W5T UP
6CALL ,MEG4
  8,N[ ,I'LL TELL Y :AT WE'LL D10 SD
,HANNAH1 :5 %E _H EXAM9$ & "Q$ ,BE?2 8WE
W H ,DR4 ,BANGS1 J 6TAKE A LOOK AT Y1
DE>1 & SEE T WE />T "R2 !N WE'LL S5D
,AMY (F 6,AUNT ,M>*'S1 =A SPELL1 6KEEP
H] \ ( H>M'S WAY1 & "O ( Y GIRLS C /AY
AT HOME & AMUSE ,BE? =A "D OR TWO4
  8,I % /AY1 ( C\RSE2 ,I'M OLDE/10 2GAN
,MEG1 LOOK+ ANXI\S & SELF-REPROA*;L4
  8,I %1 2C X'S MY FAULT %E IS SICK2 ,I
TOLD "M ,I'D D ! ]R&S1 & ,I HAV5'T10 SD
,JO DECID$LY4
  8,: W Y H1 ,BE?8 "! A9'T NO NE$ ( B
"O10 SD ,HANNAH4
  8,JO1 PL1SE02 & ,BE? L1N$ H] H1D AG/
H] SI/]1 )A 3T5T$ LOOK1 : E6ECTU,Y
SETTL$ T PO9T4
  8,I'LL G & TELL ,AMY10 SD ,MEG1 FEEL+
A LL HURT1 YET R RELIEV$1 ON ! :OLE1 =
%E DID N L NURS+1 & ,JO DID4
  ,AMY REBELL$ \T"R1 & PAS.NATELY DCLD T
%E _H R H ! FEV] ?AN G 6,AUNT ,M>*4 ,MEG
R1SON$1 PL1D$1 & -M&$3 ALL 9 VA94 ,AMY
PROTE/$ T %E WD N G2 & ,MEG LEFT H] 9
DESPAIR1 6ASK ,HANNAH :AT %D 2 D"O4 ,2F
%E CAME BACK1 ,LAURIE WALK$ 96! P>LOR
6F9D ,AMY SO2+1 ) H] H1D 9 ! S(A-
CU%IONS4 ,%E TOLD H] /ORY1 EXPECT+ 6BE
3SOL$2 B ,LAURIE ONLY PUT 8 H&S 9 8
POCKETS & WALK$ AB ! ROOM1 :I/L+ S(TLY1
Z HE KNIT 8 BR[S 9 DEEP ?"\4 ,PRES5TLY
HE SAT D[N 2S H]1 & SD1 9 8 MO/ :E$LE"S
T"O1 8,N[ 2 A S5SI# LL WOMAN1 & D Z !Y
SAY4 ,NO1 DON'T CRY1 B HE> :AT A JOLLY
PLAN ,I'VE GOT4 ,Y G 6,AUNT ,M>*'S1 &
,I'LL -E & TAKE Y \ E "D1 DRIV+ OR
WALK+1 & WE'LL H CAPITAL "TS4 ,WON'T T 2
BETT] ?AN MOP+ "H80
  8,I DON'T WI% 6BE S5T (F Z IF ,I 0 9 !
WAY10 2GAN ,AMY1 9 AN 9JUR$ VOICE4
  8,B.S YR HE>T1 *1 X'S 6KEEP Y WELL4 ,Y
DON'T WANT 6BE SICK1 D Y80
  8,NO1 ,I'M SURE ,I DON'T2 B ,I D>E SAY
,I % BE1 = ,I'VE BE5 ) ,BE? ALL ! "T40
  8,T'S ! V R1SON Y "\ 6G AWAY AT ONCE1
S T Y MAY ESCAPE X4 ,*ANGE ( AIR & C>E W
KEEP Y WELL1 ,I D>E SAY2 OR1 IF X DOES N
5TIRELY1 Y W H ! FEV] M LI<TLY4 ,I
ADVISE Y 6BE (F Z SOON Z Y C1 = SC>LET
FEV] IS NO JOKE1 MISS40
  8,B X'S DULL AT ,AUNT ,M>*'S1 & %E IS
S CROSS10 SD ,AMY1 LOOK+ R F"R5$4
  8,X WON'T 2 DULL ) ME POPP+ 9 E "D
6TELL Y H[ ,BE? IS1 & TAKE Y \
GALLIVANT+4 ,! OLD LADY LIKES ME1 &
,I'LL 2 Z SWEET Z POSSI# 6H]1 S %E WON'T
PECK AT U1 :AT"E WE D40
  8,W Y TAKE ME \ 9 ! TROTT+ WAGON )
,PUCK80
  8,ON MY HONOR Z A G5TLEMAN40
  8,& -E E S+LE "D80
  8,SEE IF ,I DON'T40
  8,& BR+ ME BACK ! M9UTE ,BE? IS WELL80
  8,! ID5TICAL M9UTE40
  8,& G 6! !AT]1 TRULY80
  8,A DOZ5 !AT]S1 IF WE MAY40
  8,WELL- ,I GUESS- ,I W10 SD ,AMY
SL[LY4
  8,GD GIRL6 ,CALL ,MEG1 & TELL H] Y'LL
GIVE IN10 SD ,LAURIE1 ) AN APPROV+ PAT1
: ANNOY$ ,AMY M ?AN ! 8GIV+ IN40
  ,MEG & ,JO CAME RUNN+ D[N 62HOLD !
MIRACLE : _H BE5 WR"\2 & ,AMY1 FEEL+ V
PRECI\S & SELF-SACRIFIC+1 PROMIS$ 6G1 IF
! DOCTOR SD ,BE? 0 GO+ 6BE ILL4
  8,H[ IS ! LL DE>80 ASK$ ,LAURIE2 =
,BE? 0 8 ESPECIAL PET1 & HE FELT M
ANXI\S AB H] ?AN HE LIK$ 6%[4
  8,%E IS LY+ D[N ON "M'S B$1 & FEELS
BETT]4 ,! BABY'S D1? TR\#D H]1 B ,I D>E
SAY %E HAS ONLY GOT COLD4 ,HANNAH SAYS
%E ?9KS S2 B %E LOOKS WORRI$1 & T MAKES
ME FIDGETY10 ANSW]$ ,MEG4
  8,:AT A TRY+ _W X IS60 SD ,JO1 RUMPL+
UP H] HAIR 9 A FRET;L SORT ( WAY4 8,NO
SOON] D WE GET \ ( "O TR\# ?AN D[N -ES
ANO!R4 ,"! DOESN'T SEEM 6BE ANY?+ 6HOLD
ON 6:5 "M'S G"O2 S ,I'M ALL AT SEA40
  8,WELL1 DON'T MAKE A PORCUP9E ( YRF1 X
ISN'T 2COM+4 ,SETTLE YR WIG1 ,JO1 & TELL
ME IF ,I % TELEGRAPH 6YR "M1 OR D
ANY?+80 ASK$ ,LAURIE1 :O N"E _H BE5
RECONCIL$ 6! LOSS ( 8 FR'S "O B1UTY4
  8,T IS :AT TR\#S ME10 SD ,MEG4 8,I ?9K
WE "\ 6TELL H] IF ,BE? IS RE,Y ILL1 B
,HANNAH SAYS WE M/N'T1 = "M C'T L1VE "F1
& X W ONLY MAKE !M ANXI\S4 ,BE? WON'T 2
SICK L;G1 & ,HANNAH "KS J :AT 6D1 & "M
SD WE 7 6M9D H]1 S ,I SUPPOSE WE M/1 B X
DOESN'T SEEM Q "R 6ME40
  8,HUM1 WELL1 ,I C'T SAY2 SUPPOSE Y ASK
GR&"F AF ! DOCTOR HAS BE540
  8,WE W4 ,JO1 G & GET ,DR4 ,BANGS AT
ONCE10 -M&$ ,MEG2 8WE C'T DECIDE ANY?+
TILL HE HAS BE540
  8,/AY ": Y >E1 ,JO2 ,I'M ]R&-BOY 6?
E/ABLI%;T10 SD ,LAURIE1 TAK+ UP 8 CAP4
  8,I'M AFRAID Y >E BUSY10 2GAN ,MEG4
  8,NO1 ,I'VE D"O MY LESSONS =! "D40
  8,D Y /UDY 9 VAC,N "T80 ASK$ ,JO4
  8,I FOLL[ ! GD EXAMPLE MY NEI<BORS SET
ME10 0 ,LAURIE'S ANSW]1 Z HE SWUNG HMF \
(! ROOM4
  8,I H GRT HOPES ( MY BOY10 OBS]V$ ,JO1
WAT*+ HM FLY OV] ! F;E ) AN APPROV+
SMILE4
  8,HE DOES V WELL- =A BOY10 0 ,MEG'S
"S:AT UNGRACI\S ANSW]1 =! SUBJECT DID N
9T]E/ H]4
  ,DR4 ,BANGS CAME1 SD ,BE? _H SYMPTOMS
(! FEV]1 B ?"\ %E WD H X LI<TLY1 ?\< HE
LOOK$ SOB] OV] ! ,HUMMEL /ORY4 ,AMY 0
ORD]$ (F AT ONCE1 & PROVID$ ) "S?+ 6W>D
(F DANG]1 %E DE"P$ 9 GRT /ATE1 ) ,JO &
,LAURIE Z ESCORT4
  ,AUNT ,M>* RCVD !M ) H] USUAL
HOSPITAL;Y4
  8,:AT D Y WANT N[80 %E ASK$1 LOOK+
%>PLY OV] H] SPECTACLES1 :ILE ! P>ROT1
SITT+ ON ! BACK ( H] *AIR1 CALL$ \- 8,G
AWAY4 ,NO BOYS ALL[$ "H40
  ,LAURIE RETIR$ 6! W9D[1 & ,JO TOLD H]
/ORY4
  8,NO M ?AN ,I EXPECT$1 IF Y >E ALL[$
6G POK+ AB AM;G POOR FOLKS4 ,AMY C /AY &
MAKE H]F USE;L IF %E ISN'T SICK1 : ,I'VE
NO D\BT %E W BE- LOOKS L X N[4 ,DON'T
CRY1 *1 X WORRIES ME 6HE> P SNIFF40
  ,AMY 0 ON ! PO9T ( CRY+1 B ,LAURIE
SLYLY PULL$ ! P>ROT'S TAIL1 : CAUS$
,POLLY 6UTT] AN A/ONI%$ CROAK1 & CALL \-
8,B.S MY BOOTS60 9 S* A FUNNY WAY1 T %E
LAU<$ 9/1D4
  8,:AT D Y HE> F YR "M80 ASK$ ! OLD
LADY GRU6LY4
  8,"F IS M* BETT]10 REPLI$ ,JO1 TRY+
6KEEP SOB]4
  8,OH1 IS HE8 ,WELL1 T WON'T LA/ L;G1
,I FANCY2 ,M>* N"E _H ANY /AM9A10 0 !
*E];L REPLY4
  8,HA1 HA6 N"E SAY DIE1 TAKE A P9* (
SNUFF1 GD-BY1 GD-BY60 SQUALL$ ,POLLY1
DANC+ ON H] P]*1 & CLAW+ AT ! OLD LADY'S
CAP Z ,LAURIE TW1K$ HM 9 ! RE>4
  8,HOLD YR T;GUE1 Y 4RESPECT;L OLD
BIRD6 &1 ,JO1 Y'D BETT] G AT ONCE2 X
ISN'T PROP] 6BE GA4+ AB S LATE )A
RATTLE-PAT$ BOY L-0
  8,HOLD YR T;GUE1 Y 4RESPECT;L OLD
BIRD60 CRI$ ,POLLY1 TUMBL+ (F ! *AIR )A
B\NCE1 & RUNN+ 6PECK ! 8RATTLE-PAT$0
BOY1 :O 0 %AK+ ) LAU<T] AT ! LA/ SPEE*4
  8,I DON'T ?9K ,I C BE> X1 B ,I'LL
TRY10 ?"\ ,AMY1 Z %E 0 LEFT AL"O ) ,AUNT
,M>*4
  8,GET AL;G1 Y F"R60 SCR1M$ ,POLLY2 &
AT T RUDE SPEE* ,AMY CD N RE/RA9 A
SNIFF4