At noon Lois went in and ate some dinner mechanically; then she returned. Presently, as she sat there, a bell began tolling, and a funeral procession passed along the road below. Lois watched it listlessly--the black-draped hearse, the slow-marching bearers, the close-covered wagons, and the nodding horses. She could see it plainly through the thin spring branches. It was quite a long procession; she watched it until it passed. The cemetery was only a little way below the house, on the same side of the street. By twisting her head a little, she could have seen the black throng at the gate. After a while the hearse and the carriages went past on their homeward road at a lively pace, the gate clicked, and Mrs. Jane Maxwell and a young man came up the walk. Lois stood up shrinkingly as they approached, the door behind her opened, and she heard her mother's voice. "Good-afternoon," said Mrs. Field, with rigid ceremony, her mouth widened in a smile. "Good-afternoon, Esther," returned Mrs. Maxwell. "I've been to the funeral, an' I thought I'd jest run in a minute on my way home. I wanted to ask you an' your niece to come over an' take tea to-morrow. Flora, she'd come, but she didn't get out to the funeral. This is my nephew, Francis Arms, my sister's son. I s'pose you remember him when he was a little boy." Mrs. Field bowed primly to the young man. The old lady was eying Lois. "I s'pose this is your niece, Esther? I heard she'd come," she said, with sharp graciousness. "This is Miss Lois Field; I'll make you acquainted, Mis' Maxwell," replied Mrs. Field. Mrs. Maxwell reached out her hand, and Lois took it trembling; her little girlish figure drooped before them all. "She don't look much like you, Esther. I s'pose she takes after her mother," said Mrs. Maxwell. "I think she rather favors her father's folks," said Mrs. Field. "I heard she wa'n't very well, but seems to me she looks pretty smart." "She ain't been well at all," returned Mrs. Field, in a quick, resentful manner. "Well, I guess she'll pick up here; Elliot's a real healthy place. She must come over and see us real often. This is my nephew, Francis Arms, Lois. I shall have to get him to beau you around and show you the sights." Lois glanced timidly up at the young man, and returned his bow slightly. "Won't you walk in?" said Mrs. Field. Lois went into the house with the party; the old lady still held her hand in her black-mitted one. "I want you and my nephew to get acquainted," she whispered; "he's a real nice young man. I'm goin' to have you an' your aunt come over an' take tea to-morrow." They all seated themselves in the south front room. Lois sat beside Mrs. Maxwell on the high black sofa; her feet swung clear from the floor. The young man, who was opposite, beside the chimney, glanced now and then kindly across at her.