Mr. Armstrong had come in, unheard by the lady in her own rush of words, and had approached too near, as this suddenly ceased, to be able to escape again unnoticed. Mis' Battis told Luther Goodell afterwards, that she "jest looked in from the next room, at that, and if ever a woman felt cheap--all over--and as if she hadn't a right to her own toes and fingers, and as if every thread and stitch on her turned mean, all at once--it was Mrs. Gimp, that minit!" "Has Faith returned?" Mr. Armstrong asked, of Mrs. Gartney, after a little pause in which Mrs. Gimp showed no disposition to develop into deed her forty-times declared "great mind." "I think not. She said she would remain an hour or two with Glory, and help her to arrange those matters she came in, this morning, to ask us about." "I will walk over." And the minister took his hat again, and with a bow to the two ladies, passed out, and across the lane. "Faith!" ejaculated the village matron, her courage and her mind to meddle returning. "Well, that's intimate!" It might as well be done now, as at any time. Mr. Armstrong, himself, had heedlessly precipitated the occasion. It had only been, among them, a question of how and when. There was nothing to conceal. "Yes," replied Mrs. Gartney, quietly. "They will be married by and by." "Did she go out the door, ma'am? Or has she melted down into the carpet? 'Cause, I _have_ heerd of people sinkin' right through the floor," said Mis' Battis, who "jest looked in" a second time, as the bewildered visitor receded. * * * * * The pleasant autumn months, mellowing and brightening all things, seemed also to soften and gild their memories of the life that had ended, ripely and beautifully, among them. Glory, after the first overwhelm of astonishment at what had befallen her--made fully to understand that which she had a right, and was in duty bound to do--entered upon the preparations for her work with the same unaffected readiness with which she would have done the bidding of her living mistress. It was so evident that her true humbleness was untouched by all. "It's beautiful!" and the tears and smiles would come together as she said it. "But then, Miss Faith--Mr. Armstrong! I never can do any of it unless you help me!" Faith and Mr. Armstrong did help with heart and hand, and every word of counsel that she needed. "I must buy some cotton and calico, and make some little clothes and tyers. Hadn't I better? When they come, I'll have them to take care of." And with the loving anticipation of a mother, she made up, and laid away, Faith helping her in all, her store of small apparel for little ones that were to come.