They looked at her, and then at one another, and then back again at her; and next a man took his pipe from his mouth, and clearing his throat, delivered himself of the following sentences:—“I ain’t no speaker, I ain’t, but I say for one as I’d trust that there Basket Lady any lengths. She’s the best friend we’ve ever had in this ’ere Grove, and she knows us, and what we like, and what we won’t stand; and she won’t prove no sneak, I’ll lay my life on that. This Grove ain’t been the same place since she come round a-basketing; nor our homes ain’t been the same neither, and we’ve most of us fell in love with our old women over again, all through her; and I say, here’s our duty to her, and what she says is right as between Mr. Knight and us, I’ll stand by.” “Hear! hear! So we will all. Hooray for the Basket Lady!” said another, and a hearty cheer was raised, in which both men and women joined. For a moment or two the recipient of all this public honour could not speak. Her lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. It was a grand time for her; how grand only those can know who stake their happiness and very life on the good of others. Two lines of a hymn rang through her soul— Oh, happy if ye labour, As Jesus did for men. It will seem strange to many who read these words, but it is the truth, that never before, and never after, in her whole life did she know such a rush and ecstacy of gladness as she knew then. “Dear friends,” she said at last, “I thank you very much. As long as I live I will be your friend; and I hope you will not be afraid to go with me into this new life that Mr. Knight has made possible for us. I will see him on Monday morning, and on Monday evening, after work-time, I will let you know what he says.” CHAPTER XVI. CHRISTMAS DAY. “You are not like most women, my daughter Tom; you can keep a secret?” “But not from you, dear. I will tell you what you want to know, really, if you put it in that way.”