But she seemed to like it, for she kissed me back again, and I ran and jumped on the car, and here I am! You will have to eat your dinner without any flowers, madam, for you have a vulgarly strong, healthy daughter, and the poor lady in black has n't." This was Polly's first impression of "the lady in black," and thus began an acquaintance which was destined before many months to play a very important part in Polly's fortunes and misfortunes.
What the lady in black thought of Polly, then and subsequently, was told at her own fireside, where she sat, some six weeks later, chatting over an after-dinner cup of coffee with her brother-in-law.
"Take the armchair, John," said Mrs.Bird; "for I have 'lots to tell you,' as the young folks say.

I was in the Children's Hospital about five o'clock to-day.

I have n't been there for three months, and I felt guilty about it.

The matron asked me to go upstairs into the children's sitting-room, the one Donald and I fitted up in memory of Carol.

She said that a young lady was telling stories to the children, but that I might go right up and walk in.