"My, suppose Mrs. Croft was to be up and about!" said Miss Debby, opening her eyes widely. "Whatever would you do?" "Do! I know what I'd do." Young Mrs. Croft looked dark and mysterious. "I know just exactly what I'll do. And I'm all ready to do it, and if I'm interfered with, I will do it,--good and quick, too." "How is old Mrs. Croft now?" Miss Debby asked. "Oh, she's grabbin' as ever. I never see such a disposition. She's always catching at me or the cat or something. Seems to consider it a way of attracting attention. Crazy folks has such crazy ideas, and she's crazy,--crazy as a loon." Katie Croft took up her market basket and went on up the street. Miss Debby stayed behind to wait for the noon mail. "Katie's so bitter," she said to herself, shaking her head; "she ought to be more grateful for being supported." Miss Debby forgot that there are few things so irritating in this world as being supported. It is a situation which has become especially unpopular lately, particularly with women and political motives. But no old worn-out aphorism held for one minute in the breezy bloom of the House Where Jane Lived. "Oh, I'm so happy," Susan exclaimed many times daily, "I'm so happy. I never felt nothing like your sunshining in all my life before, you Sunshine Jane, you! I feel like my own cupboards, all unlocked and aired and nice and used again." Jane stopped caroling as she kneaded bread and laughed--which sounded equally pleasant. "I'm as happy as you are, Auntie; it's so nice to be in heaven." "I used to think maybe I'd die suddenly and find myself there some day," said Susan. "I'm glad I didn't." "It's better to live suddenly than to die suddenly," said Jane, merrily; "when people are awfully bothered sometimes, I've heard their friends say: 'But if you died suddenly, it would work out somehow,' and I wanted to say: 'Why not live suddenly instead of dying suddenly, and then everything's bound to come out splendidly.'" "Oh, Jane, what a grand idea,--to live suddenly! That's what I've done, surely." "Yes," said Jane, "that's what I did, too. Instead of fading out of life, we just bloomed into life. It's just as easy, and a million times more fun." "And it's all so awfully agreeable," said Susan. "My things look so nice, all set different, and it's so pleasant having folks coming in, and I like it all, and we haven't to fuss with the garden." "I attend to the garden!" cried a voice outside, and a mysterious hand shoved a basket of peas over the window-ledge. "I know who that is," said Susan; "it's that boy, and he's smelt cinnamon rolls and come to lunch. How do you do?" Lorenzo, brown and merry, was getting in at the window. "Why, you've really been weeding!" exclaimed Susan. "Of course! I've tended the garden ever since you gave it up." "I declare! Well, I never. Jane, we must give him a bite of something."