There were times, indeed, when the vigor she put into her work was more of a relief to her feelings than

' all right, all right! The idea of stickin' that blessed child 'way off up here in this hot little room-with no fire in the winter, too, and all this big house ter pick and choose from!

en, her task finished, she looked about

!-a pretty place this is ter put a homesick, lonesome child into!" she finished, going out and closing the door with a ba

n which to interview Old Tom, who had pulled the weeds an

shoulder to make sure she was unobserved; "did you know

d man, straightening his

l-to live wit

ing Tom. "Why don't ye tell me the sun is

self," maintained Nancy. "It's her

n's ja

t must be-Miss Jennie's little gal! There wasn't none of the rest of 'em married. Why, Nancy, it

s Miss

s knew her as their oldest daughter. She was twenty when she married and went away from here long yea

leven ye

ht be," nodde

ame ter HER!" scolded Nancy, with another glanc

next moment a curious

s Polly will do with a ch

at a child will do with Miss Pol

d man

n't fond of Miss P

could be fond of h

y. He stooped and b

know about Miss Polly's lo

-and I guess nobody e

ld man. "And the feller's livin'

is

elf erect. In his dim blue eyes, as he faced the house, there was the loyal

ible-her and a lover,"

shook

argued. "She used ter be real handsome-and

me! Mis

t used ter be, and wear the sort of bunnits with posies in 'em, and the kind o' dress

s got an awfully good imitation of

," nodded Old Tom; "and it seems as if she'd been feedin' on wormwood

try! I wouldn't stay if 'twa'n't for the wages and the folks at home what's needin' 'em. But some day-so

shook

child; 'tain't best. Take my word for it, 'tain't best.

alled a sh

mered Nancy; and hur