"Teaching at school, I do that already," she said to herself, when Aunt Rose's entrance had made her work her machine more and her tongue less. "I must get something more to do. Oh! I know. There's poor old half-blind Mrs. Long. She is left to herself terribly, they do say, and I'll go and tidy her up, and see to her and read to her every day. I could do it before my work and after. Maybe I might get her to be a better old woman than she ever has been. Books say that nothing so softens an old woman as a nice, bright young girl coming in to make much of her, and I'm sure I'm nice and bright--not so much in myself, but compared with the whole lot of Longs." So Amy told her plan to her aunts, as soon as Florence and Jessie had gone home to dinner. The two aunts looked at one another, and Aunt Charlotte said, "Did the sermon make you think of that?" in rather a doubtful tone. "Yes," said Amy. "One seemed to long to be doing some good, not be only an empty flower, as he said." "Mrs. Long," said Aunt Rose; "she ain't a very nice person to fix upon." "But no one wants it so much, aunt," said Amy. "That's true," said Aunt Charlotte. "Well, Amy, we must think about it, and speak to your father. Run out now, and gather a bit of parsley for his cheese." Amy knew it was to get her out of the way, and felt rather disappointed that the proposal was not seized upon at once, and applauded. "She's a good girl," said Aunt Rose. "Well, so she is, and I don't like to stand in her way," said Aunt Charlotte. "But to pitch on old Sally Long of all folk in the world!" said Rose. "There's no doubt but she does want something done for her; but I misdoubt me if she will choose our Amy to do it. Besides, I don't like her tongue. That's what daunts me most." "Yes. If she took it kind of the girl, she would never be satisfied without talking to her of all the old backbiting tales that ever was! And we that have kept our girl up from hearing of all evil just like a lady--" "What is it?" said Ambrose Lee, himself coming in, after putting up his cart. "Why, that sermon last night has worked upon our Amy, so that she wants to do something extra," said Aunt Rose. "A right down good sermon it was," said the father; "a bit flowery, to suit the maidens, I suppose." "And she said it all off to me, quite beautiful," said Rose, who had stayed at home. "And what does the child want to be doing? I won't have her go back to her books again, to worry her head into aching." "No, that's not what she wants. Her notion is to run in and out and see to old Widow Long." "Widow Long!" exclaimed the baker. "Why, she's got as slandering a tongue as any in the parish! Give the poor old soul a loaf or a sup of broth if you like, but I'll not have my girl running in and out to hear all the gossip of the place, and worse."