"It is a good thing to look backward sometimes," said Mrs. Bowers. "Where are you going now?" "You know you said this morning that I might go down and spend the afternoon with Aunt Hannah," said Rhoda. "She is going away so soon I may not have another chance." "Oh, very well. I do not see what you find so very attractive in Aunt Hannah, but I suppose almost any place is better than home." Rhoda's face clouded again, and she looked as if some sharp answer might be lurking behind her compressed lips. If so, it was not allowed to escape, for she said, gently, though with some apparent effort,— "I have set the table, and laid the fire all ready to light, and filled the tea-kettle, but I will come back in time to get the tea if you like, or I won't go at all if you want me, mother dear. Don't you feel so well this afternoon?" Mrs. Bowers looked a little ashamed. "Yes, child, only I am tired and worried about something. You mustn't mind if I am cross. You are a good girl, Rhoda, and always have been—I will say that, whatever happens. There! Run along and have a good long visit with Aunt Hannah, and stay till dark if you like. As you say, you may never have another chance—not in a good long time, at least; and the old lady has always been a kind friend to you. I only wish, for your sake, she were a little better off." "Why?" asked Rhoda. "Oh, because—because she might leave you something one of these days," answered Mrs. Bowers, arranging the baby's dress as she spoke. "I suppose she is pretty poor?" "Well, no; she has her place and about three hundred a year." "How did she come to be left so, when her brother, Uncle Weightman, is so well off?" asked Rhoda. "I don't know the rights of it," answered Mrs. Bowers. "There were two wills, I know, and by the last one the children were to share alike, but it wasn't signed or witnessed right, or something, and so they went by the first will, which gave everything to Jacob—only this little place and Aunt Hannah's property. But, Rhoda, you must remember not to call him Uncle Weightman to his face. You know he doesn't like it." "No fear," said Rhoda, laughing; "I don't like him well enough for that. He is so domineering and interfering, I do wonder how father puts up with his ways so patiently." "Well, he is getting an old man now, and your father is his heir by rights; so he naturally wants to please him. He can make us all rich if he chooses." "Yes, but he won't choose, you'll see. He will go on saving all his life, and then think to make up by leaving his money to the Bible society or some such thing, and think himself very generous because he gives away his money when he can't keep it any longer. I never can see any goodness in such bequests." "I don't know about that. But anyhow you must be careful, for your father would be very angry if you should do anything to offend Uncle Jacob." "I'll be careful, never fear," said Rhoda. "But don't you really want me this afternoon, mother dear?"