"I told you her name was Roundtree,--Miss Camilla Roundtree," replied Sally. "Most folks call her 'old Miss Camilla' around here. She's awfully poor, though they say her folks were quite rich at one time, and she's quite deaf too. That big old place was her father's, and I s'pose is hers now, but she can't afford to keep it up, she has so little money. So she just lives in that small part, and she knits for a living,--caps and sweaters and things like that. She does knit beautifully and gets quite a good many orders, especially in summer, but even so it hardly brings her in enough to live on. She's kind of queer too, folks think. But I don't see why you're so interested in her." "I like her looks," answered Doris. "She has a fine face. Somehow she seems to me like a lady,--a _real_ lady!" "Well, she sort of puts on airs, folks think, and she doesn't care to associate with everybody," admitted Sally. "But she's awfully good and kind, too. Goes and nurses people when they're sick or have any trouble, and never charges for it, and all that sort of thing. But, same time, she always seems to want to be by herself. She reads lots, too, and has no end of old books. They say they were her father's. Once she lent me one or two when I went to get her to make a sweater for Genevieve." "Oh, do you know her?" cried Doris. "How interesting!" "Why, yes, of course I know her. Everyone does around here. But I don't see anything very interesting about it." To tell the truth, Sally was quite puzzled by Doris's absorption in the subject. It was Genevieve who broke the spell. "I's sirsty!" she moaned. "I want a djink. I want Mis Camilla to gi' me a djink!" "Come on!" cried Doris to Sally. "If you know her, we can easily go over and ask her for a drink. I'm crazy to meet her." Still wondering, Sally led the way over to the tiny garden and the three proceeded up the path toward Miss Roundtree. "Why, good morning!" exclaimed that lady, looking up. Her voice was very soft, and a little toneless, as is often the case with the deaf. "Good morning!" answered Sally in a rather loud tone, and a trifle awkwardly presented Doris. But there was no awkwardness in the manner with which Miss Camilla acknowledged the new acquaintance. Indeed it was suggestive of an old-time courtesy, now growing somewhat obsolete. And Doris had a chance to gaze, at closer range, on the fine, high-bred face framed in its neatly parted gray hair. "Might Genevieve have a drink?" asked Doris at length. "She seems to be very thirsty." "Why, assuredly!" exclaimed Miss Camilla. "Come inside, all of you, and rest in the shade." So they trooped indoors, into Miss Camilla's tiny sitting-room, while she herself disappeared into the still tinier kitchen at the back. While she was gone, Doris gazed about with a new wonder and admiration in her eyes.