She saw Lucy open her lips, then close them. "I've got it all done," went on Ellen audaciously. "It's drawn up, signed, an' sealed. In fact, I brought it home with me. Here it is." Tossing a large white envelope fastened with a splash of red wax upon the table, she peered at her niece. "I'm goin' to give it to you to keep," continued she in a hectoring tone. "It'll be like havin' Pandora's box around. You can't open it, an' you'll have the continual fun of wonderin' what's inside." "I'd rather not take it." "But I want you to," asserted Ellen. "I'm givin' it to you to take care of. It'll help to make life interestin'. Besides, who knows but you may be tempted to break it open some night an' have a peep inside." Craftily the old woman watched the girl. "Or mebbe you'll tear it up," she mused. "Who knows? Then if I was to die, you could pretend I hadn't made no will." "Take it back. I shan't keep it," Lucy cried, moving toward the door. "Afraid of yourself, eh?" "No." The monosyllable rang with scorn. "Then prove it," sneered Ellen. "Give it to me." Smiling evilly, her aunt pushed the packet across the table. There was a leer of triumph in the sharp-featured face. "I 'magine that 'twas gettin' as mad as you are now that kep' the Websters from ever buildin' up that wall," she called after her niece, as Lucy with crimson cheeks fled up the stairs, the long white envelope in her hand. CHAPTER XI THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON "I want you should go to the village to-day," announced Ellen, making her appearance in Lucy's room on a hot August morning a few weeks later. "Tony's got to get the scythe mended an' have Dolly shod. Don't it beat all how somethin's always wearin' out? Long's he's goin', you might's well drive along with him an' take the eggs an' corn I promised Elias Barnes. There's some more errands at the store I want done, too." "All right, Aunt Ellen." But the woman loitered. "If you don't want to hang 'round town till Tony gets ready to come back, mebbe you could find somebody comin' this way who would give you a lift home. It seems sort of a shame to stay there wastin' the time you could be usin' here." Lucy smiled at the characteristic remark. "An' if you didn't happen on any one," went on Ellen, "likely you wouldn't mind walkin'; 'twould get you home quicker." "No, indeed. I always like a walk." "I reckon 'twill be warm." "I don't mind." "That's good." Ellen was always gracious when her plans went to her satisfaction. "I want you to be ready to start right after breakfast," she added, as she went out the door. "The earlier you get off the earlier you'll be back again. I wish I could go myself an' dicker with Elias. I would if it warn't that I have to tinker with that pesky cream separator." "Is the cream separator out of order?" "Yes," said Ellen wearily. "Trust that Tony to bust everythin' he touches." She closed Lucy's door with a spirited bang.