In spite of pain, long nights of sleeplessness, and a long and weary illness, my old friend's face glowed with happiness, and in her eyes was that perfect look of peace, which remains as a beacon to every pilgrim who has ever met it. I offered to read to Mrs. Harley, but she declined. "No readin', dear, for I can hear Him myself. There's no need now to speak or pray, I'm goin' Home. I, what be so tired." Then she thanked me for coming, and asked me with an ethereal smile about "the little one. Mak' her grow up worth havin'," she added seriously. "Every child is made in the image of God, and it isn't parents as ought to deface His image. 'Tisn't only book learning, and fine dressing, as will make her a lady, but you'll do yer best," and she patted my hand affectionately. [Sidenote: TWO OLD FRIENDS] Then my old friend began to talk of her past life, of her early marriage, "fifty years agone," with a right God-fearing man; of her happy married life, and then, calmly and bravely, of her joyous and approaching death. "I am going Home," were her last words, and I shall never forget the exquisite certainty of her tone, as I left the room and followed Betty downstairs. A minute later, and Betty and I found ourselves in the little kitchen below. "I shall miss her terrible," she said in a husky voice. "Nell and I, years and years agone, were scholards together when old Madam Challoner taught in the little white house yonder, afore the new school was built. We growed up and we married, the same year. Her got a good man; I got a beauty, and a bad one. When Harley died, he left his missus the cottage, garden, a few fields, and a tight bit of money. Soon after her was left a widow, I went to see her, for Marnwood Beaman, my man, he fell off a waggon, dead drunk, and was killed, and I was left without a penny. I couldn't do much, for I had got cripply ever since I had got the rheumatics, so I made up my mind it war to the poor-house I war bound. One day (when I had stomached a resolution to carry this through, and it costs the poorest body a lot to do), I went, as I said, to see Nell afore I spoke to the overseer. "When I got in, Nell, her comed up to me and her says, 'What ails thee, Betty?' for my eyes were red and bulgy. Then I told her what war on my mind, and that for all my cottage war a poor place, it went sadly against the grain to leave it and to have a mistress to knopple over me, and give me orders same as if I war a little maid at school. "Then," added Betty, "Nell her brought me the greatest peace as I have ever felt. "Her said, with one of her grand smiles, and sometimes, for all her war but poor folk, Nell looked a born duchess, but with a bit of an angel too, 'Don't you think, Betty, of leaving and goin' to the poor-house or any other institution, but stay you at home with me. Pick up your duds and us two will live together, for my daughter be married.