Calista peeped into the sitting-room. She had come to look on the Philadelphia scheme as quite settled and certain, and she felt a sudden sinking at her heart as she saw Miss Druett and Aunt Priscilla sitting together just as usual. Miss Stanfield was the first to speak. "Whose wagon was that I heard? Have you taken to hiring carriages to bring you home?" "Not quite, yet," answered Calista. "Cassius overtook me, and brought me home in his wagon." "Well, that is well enough. If you were a little sharper, you might often get a ride and save your shoes. But catch you saving anything!" "Let the child alone, Priscilla," said Miss Druett. "Calista, did you get the things as I told you?" "Yes, ma'am, they are all here. Shall I leave them in your room?" "If you please. I am just going up." "So you have made it up with Aunt Priscilla," said Calista, as they were going up stairs together. Miss Druett nodded. "She came to my room, begged my pardon for what she had said, and asked me to stay, and I have said I would for the present." "And so all our fine plan falls to the ground," said Calista, sadly. "For the present, as I said; but it may yet come to pass. Meantime, here is something to console you." She put a bunch of keys into Calista's hand as she spoke. Calista looked at them in wonder. "What are these?" she asked. "Keys," said Miss Druett, smiling. "Look into your room, and perhaps you will find something they will fit." With a beating heart Calista, opened the door. There in a row at the side stood the three brown leather trunks, marked on the end "Calista Folsom." CHAPTER TWELFTH. THE TRUNKS. "I KNOW it was your doing, Miss Druett. How did you manage it?" "Why, I thought the present was a good time for some diplomacy, so I made the restoration of the trunks, and several other things, conditions of my remaining. You are my girl now, Calista, and must mind me. I mean to be very harsh and tyrannical, so you must make up your mind to it. I shall take out all my injuries of every sort on you." "What do you mean?" "I mean that I made it one condition of my staying another day, that you were to be delivered over to my care altogether, Priscilla furnishing your board as long as you stay here, and I being at all the other expenses of your maintenance and education. So mind you don't tear your dresses and spoil your shoes running after flowers and squirrels, or I don't know what will happen." "It is too much, Miss Druett; more than you ought to do." "No, I can afford it well enough; as things are, I have not much use for money." "But you might live so much more pleasantly somewhere else." "More pleasantly, perhaps, but pleasure is not all, my little girl. Here is my place, and here I must remain for the present. General Stanfield was my mother's friend and helper in her sorest hour of need, and I will stay and watch over his daughter as long as I can do her any good."