Oh , I 'm so tired and discouraged ! '' She put her hands over her face and sobbed . Mrs. Falconer caught her breath . What if Missy were somewhere alone in the world -- ill , friendless , with never a soul to offer her a refuge or a shelter ? It was so very , very probable . Before she could check herself Mrs. Falconer spoke . `` My dear , do n't cry ! I want you to come and stay with me until you get perfectly well . You wo n't be a speck of trouble , and I 'll be glad to have you for company . '' Mrs. Falconer 's Rubicon was crossed . She could not draw back now if she wanted to . But she was not at all sure that she did want to . By the time she reached home she was sure she did n't want to . And yet -- to give Missy 's room to Camilla ! It seemed a great sacrifice to Mrs. Falconer . She went up to it the next morning with firmly set lips to air and dust it . It was just the same as when Missy had left it long ago . Nothing had ever been moved or changed , but everything had always been kept beautifully neat and clean . Snow-white muslin curtains hung before the small square window . In one corner was a little white bed .
Missy 's pictures hung on the walls ; Missy 's books and work-basket were lying on the square stand ; there was a bit of half-finished fancy work , yellow from age , lying XXXXX the basket .
Before as at for if in of over until with