“Yes,” said the girl, blushing and looking embarrassed. “Ain’t it a nice evenin’?” “It is that; awful nice. I’m tyin’ up my rosebushes. Won’t you come in an’ set down a while?” “Oh, my, no!” said Demaris. Her eyes went wistfully to the pink rosebush. “I can’t stay.” “Come fer kindlin’ wood?” “No.” She laughed a little at the worn-out joke. “I come to see ’f you had two or three pink roses to spare.” “Why, to be sure, a dozen if you want. Just come an’ help yourself. My hands ain’t fit to tech ’em after diggin’ so.” She stood watching the girl while she carefully selected some half-open roses. There was a look of good-natured curiosity on her face. “Anything goin’ on at the church to-night?” “No; at least not that I know of.” “It must be a party then.” “No—not a party, either.” She laughed merrily. Her face was hidden as she bent over the roses, but her ears were pink under the heavy brown hair that fell, curling, over them. “Well, then, somebody’s comin’ to see you.” “No; I’ll have to tell you.” She lifted a glad, shy face. “I’m goin’ on the moonlight excursion.” “Oh, now! Sure? Well, I’m reel glad.” “So’m I. I never wanted to go anywheres so much in my life. I’ve been ’most holdin’ my breath for fear ma’d get sick.” “How is your ma?” “Well, she ain’t very well; she never is, you know.” “What ails her?” “I do’ know,” said Demaris, slowly. “We’ll get home by midnight. So ’f she has a spell come on, pa can set up with her till I get home, and then I can till mornin’.” “Should think you’d be all wore out a-settin’ up two or three nights a week that way.” Demaris sighed. The radiance had gone out of her face and a look of care was upon it. “Well,” she said, after a moment, “I’ll have a good time to-night, anyhow. We’re goin’ to have the band along. They’re gettin’ so’s they play reel well. They play ‘Annie Laurie’ an’ ‘Rocked ’n the Cradle o’ the Deep,’ now.” The gate clicked. A child came running up the path. “Oh, sister, sister! Come home quick!” “What for?” said Demaris. There was a look of dread on her face. “Ma’s goin’ right into a spell. She wants you quick. She thinks she’s took worse ’n usual.” There was a second’s hesitation. The girl’s face whitened. Her lips trembled. “I guess I won’t want the roses after gettin’ ’em,” she said. “I’m just as much obliged, though, Mis’ Eaton.” She followed the child to the gate. “Well, if that don’t beat all!” ejaculated Mrs. Eaton, looking after her with genuine sympathy. “It just seems as if she had a spell to order ev’ry time that girl wants to go anywheres. It’s nothin’ but hysterics, anyway. I’d like to doctor her for a while. I’d souze a bucket o’ cold water over her! I reckon that ’u’d fetch her to ’n a hurry.” She laughed with a kind of stern mirth and resumed her work. Demaris hurried home. The child ran at her side. Once she took her hand and gave her an upward look of sympathy.