During the vacation Jessie spent a part of the time with her, but Agnes resolutely resisted all Guy’s entreaties that she should at least call on Maddy, who had expressed a wish to see her, and who, on account of her grandfather’s health, and the childishness with which Uncle Joseph clung to her, could not well go up to Aikenside. Agnes would not go to Honedale neither would she give other reasons for the obstinacy than the apparently foolish one that she did not wish to see a crazy man, as such things made her nervous. Still, she did not object to Jessie’s going as often as she liked, and she sent by her many little delicacies from Aikenside, some for grandpa, but most for Uncle Joseph, who prized highly everything coming from “the Madam,” and sent back to her more than one strangely-worded message, which made the proud woman’s eyes overflow when sure that no one could see her. But this kind of intercourse came to an end at last. The vacation was over, Jessie had gone back to school, and Maddy began in sober earnest the new life before her. Flora, it is true, relieved her of all household drudgery, but no one could share the burden of care and anxiety pressing so heavily upon her; anxiety for her grandfather, whose health seemed failing so fast, and who always looked so disturbed if a shadow were resting on her bright face, or her voice was less cheerful in its tone; and care for the imbecile Joseph, who clung to her as a child clings to its mother, refusing to be cared for by any one else, and often requiring of her more than her strength could endure for a great length of time. She gave him his breakfast in the morning, amused him through the day, and then after he was in bed at night often sat by his side till a late hour, singing to him old songs, or telling Bible stories until he fell asleep. Then if he woke, as he frequently did, there was a cry for Maddy, and the soothing process had to be repeated, until the tired, pale watcher ceased to wonder that her grandmother had died so suddenly, wondering rather that she had lived so long and borne so much.