The next day, instead of going with the rest to pay a visit to friends in a neighbouring town, Fidelia chose to stay at home and help cousin Abby with her preparations for the expedition to the Summit, as the highest hill in the neighbourhood was called, and had a better time than if she had gone with the rest. She enjoyed helping Miss Abby, and she enjoyed her talk while the work went on. For Miss Abby Chase saw clearly--had all her life seen clearly--many things which eyes intent only on personal interests might easily have overlooked. Her talk did not flow on in "a straight stream," so as to become wearisome; but now and then a remark was made, or a word of advice given, or a bit of personal experience told, of which Fidelia made a note, saying to herself: "I must remember to tell Eunice that. How Eunice would like to hear cousin Abby talk!" They had not, for various reasons, been ready to begin "in the cool of the morning," as was Miss Abby's custom when there was anything special to do. The day was warm, and, though the work was pleasant work, it was hard work too in a way. But no feeling of weariness could interfere with the satisfaction with which they viewed results. The success was complete. "They will spoil a good housekeeper if they make a schoolmistress of you!"--as Fidelia stood folding her apron, and regarding with admiring eyes a big chicken-pie which Mattie had just brought in from the oven. "But I don't suppose you'd care about spending your life as a housekeeper, when you might have higher work to do." "Higher work? Yes, I suppose so. Teaching is either the highest work, or it is drudgery. I suppose it depends upon the teacher," said Fidelia gravely. "But any sort of work is good if it is needed, and if it is well done--as we have done our work to-day," added she, smiling. "Yes; and it is something to do well the humblest work, when others are helped by it to do the highest. And then the Lord doesn't always see `high' and `low' just as we do. And those who just help other folks' works, and come into other folks' lives, without having much of a life of their very own, may have a good time too--yes, and a good reward." "Yes," said Fidelia, thinking of her sister. "Miss Abby, don't you go visiting sometimes? Won't you come to our house and see my sister? She would like to have you, and I am sure you would like each other." "I should be pleased to visit you and your sister. Yes, I should like her. I like what I have heard about her. I saw her once--she visited here a long time ago." "Did she? I don't think I ever knew it. Was she a little girl? Was it with our father that she came?" "No; she was a grown woman--a sweet and beautiful young woman. She stayed two or three days. There was company in the house, and I remember they all went one day to the Summit. It was with Dr Justin Everett that she came." "Ah!" said Fidelia, sitting suddenly down on the window-seat.