"Well, you started us at it, anyhow," said Susan kindly. "Oh my, but I'm happy! Why, I believe I'm really in a hurry now for Matilda to come back, just so I can tell her. Think of that--me really and truly anxious to see Matilda again! My, you Sunshine Jane, you--what a lot of difference you've made in me." "When is your aunt coming?" Lorenzo asked Jane. "She went for three weeks," said Jane; "it will be three weeks next Thursday." "Goodness, only three weeks, and it seems like three years?" observed Susan. "What a lot has happened! There's Jane--and her religion--and me up and well--and old Mrs. Croft here and gone--and you, Mr. Rath,--and then you and Jane--and now this money." "I can't believe any of it," said Jane; "I try, but I just can't. I guess I'm hopelessly limited. I'm too bewildered, I--" "I'll tell you what ails you," said her aunt warmly. "It's that you've spread yourself too much; you've given such a lot away everywhere that you've got to just stop and let the tide run backwards into you yourself for a while. It's nature. Nature and the new religion combined." "I feel overwhelmed by the coming-back tide then," said Jane; "I don't deserve it all." Her aunt started to reply, but was stopped by a sudden loud bang outside. "Goodness, what's that?" she exclaimed. "Auto tire burst, I think. I'll go and see," said Lorenzo, jumping up and going out. "Jane," said Susan solemnly, "that's a young man in a million. Think of his finding that will. My, but he'll make a good husband!" "I just can't realize any of it," said her niece. She seemed to be totally unequal to any other view of her present situation. "Well, you'd better realize it," said her aunt, "because it's coming right along. What will Mrs. Mead say, I wonder! Dear me, how every one will wish they'd tried to get up a plane or two by having old Mrs. Croft to visit them. If that poor old thing could only come back, the whole town would just adore to have her on a visit now, and every one would sit up all night and listen to _Captain Jinks_ so cheerfully. She used to sing _Rally round the flag, boys_ too,--I forgot that. She used to sing it when she heard the roosters begin to crow. But nobody would have minded, whatever she sang now." "Oh, there's--" Jane hesitated and blushed. Lorenzo stood in the door. "It wasn't a burst tire," he explained briefly; "it's a new kind of siren they're using. It's friends from out of town, Mr. and Mrs. Beamer." "They've got the wrong house," said Susan. "I don't know any Beamers." "They asked for Mrs. Ralston." "Then they're selling something, grape-wine or hand-knit lace, or something. I don't want to see 'em." "I'll go," said Jane. And went at once. In the pretty, changed sitting-room she found the visitors--Mrs. Beamer tall and of large build, with a handsome motor-costume. Mr. Beamer also large, very wiry, and with rampant gray hair. Mrs. Beamer was Matilda.