`` What 's on your mind , dearie ? '' she asked . `` There 's something , that 's plain to be seen . '' Una swallowed the last twist of doughnut with a desperate gulp . `` Mrs. Elliott , wo n't you take Mary Vance ? '' she said beseechingly . Miss Cornelia stared blankly . `` Me ! Take Mary Vance ! Do you mean keep her ? '' `` Yes -- keep her -- adopt her , '' said Una eagerly , gaining courage now that the ice was broken . `` Oh , Mrs. Elliott , PLEASE do . She does n't want to go back to the asylum -- she cries every night about it . She 's so afraid of being sent to another hard place . And she 's SO smart -- there is n't anything she ca n't do . I know you would n't be sorry if you took her . '' `` I never thought of such a thing , '' said Miss Cornelia rather helplessly . `` WO N'T you think of it ? '' implored Una . `` But , dearie , I do n't want help .
I 'm quite able XXXXX do all the work here .
Cornelia Elliott about doughnut if night of on that to