“An’ that makes me think of one thing more I’ve got to tell you. I didn’t lie when I broke your car and said I ran into my Miss Flora and Mr. Aimé. I did, but I didn’t make any remarks about what started my doin’ it. Oscarlucy was takin’ Rosalind to ride in her little cart--she was always peregrinatin’ round with that kid--and I turned the corner an’ come on them so sudden, I almost run ’em down! I was ’bout scared to death, and then I swung out so far I just scooted into my other folks! That’s the truth and every mite I’ve got to confess. Well, I heard las’ night that his wife’s sick--it’s a fever--and they can’t get a soul to come an’ help. So there they are, Sereno and that ten-year-old Oscarlucy. If she’s like most children she’s worse ’n nobody, an’ when it comes to nursin’, a man ain’t in it, no matter how good he is. So I’ve got to go! I said to myself ’t I couldn’t, ’t my place was here with you and the kids. And I went to bed. But then I got to thinkin’ till I ’most jumped up an’ started off. You see, I--well, I’d been prayin’ the Lord to give me an opportunity to kind o’ make up with Sereno, for I couldn’t just go walkin’ in there after all these years and say, ‘Brother Sereno and Sister Lily, I’ve come to be reconciled’! I couldn’t fire off such a thing at ’em, could I? Well, when it come to me that here was the opportunity I’d been prayin’ for, I made up my mind I’d better get down there as quick as I could. But I wasn’t goin’ to leave you in the lurch! So I set my alarm-clock and got up at half-past three--” “Why, Benedicta,” broke in Polly, “you shouldn’t have thought of me! I can cook--a little, and so can Lilith. We’ll get along all right.” “Then you don’t blame me for going?” The housekeeper eyed the girl keenly. “Blame you!” Polly took the reddened hands in her own. “It is the very thing I want you to do. I am proud of you to know that you are ready to go--just when you are needed.” Benedicta shook her head slowly. “Thank you, Miss Polly. I’m goin’ sure, though”--a flush stole over her face--“I’d rather be horsewhipped than to do it! Las’ night, at first, I almost hoped you wouldn’t let me off!” “I know how you feel,” returned Polly; “but when it is over with, you wouldn’t have missed it for a farm. You’ll be so glad. It will pay--if only for that.” Benedicta looked at Polly through a mist of tears. “It’s just you and that little Ferne kid that’s done it,” she said. “You are so good!” “Nonsense! I’m not good at all!” Benedicta smiled as a tear ran down her cheek. “I do hope, Miss Polly, that I’ll get to heaven before you do--I shall be amazin’ly disappointed if I don’t--for I’m countin’ on bein’ there when your crown is brought in. You’ll look so astonished, for it’ll be full of stars--bright ones, too!--and you’ll say, ‘Oh, no, that isn’t mine! That can’t be for me! There must be some mistake!’ Oh, I know just what you’ll say, and it’ll be such fun to hear you say it!” CHAPTER XXIX TROUBLE IN THE KITCHEN