Then she got clean sheets and made up my bed afresh. While she was doing this, my uncle went in and spoke to her very low. But I think I must have heard or guessed that he said my sentence had been too severe, and I was not so much to blame for trying to get a simple drink of milk, for when my grandmother came out, went into the pantry and brought me a slice of bread and butter, I was not surprised, but fell upon it like a half-starved creature. Then I was sent to bed again, and it being nearly morning, the maid was called up, and I heard her scrubbing the floor and reducing the kitchen to its usual condition of shining neatness. I never tried to run away again; my grandmother never scolded me, but my shame as I put on the new shoes and took the new schoolbooks was punishment enough. I tried harder after that to please my grandmother, and really learned a good deal of sewing, and could knit beautifully before I went home. * * * * * "Poor little mamma!" said Kristy, as her mother paused, "you didn't have much fun, did you? I can just fancy how you looked, all dripping with milk. Tell me another." "Well, I'll tell you something that happened to Jenny soon after that. Jenny had often told me about an old aunt she had, whom she and her two cousins used to go to see very often. She wanted me to go with her sometimes, but I didn't know her aunt, and I was shy, and didn't like to visit strangers, so I never went." CHAPTER VII HOW AUNT BETTY MADE HER CHOICE One morning three cousins were walking slowly down the village street towards the house of their Aunt Betty, where they had been invited to dine. They were eager and excited, for there was something peculiar about the invitation, though none but Jenny knew exactly what it was. Jenny began:-- "Well, I do wonder who'll get it!" "Get what?" asked Grace. "Why, don't you know? Didn't your mother tell you?" said Jenny, in surprise. "Aunt Betty didn't mean to have us know, but mamma told me." "I don't know what you mean," said Grace. "Nor I," put in Ruth. "Why," said Jenny eagerly, "you know Aunt Betty has not been so well lately, and her doctor says she must have some one to live with her besides old Sam, and she's made up her mind--mamma says--to take one of us three and give her all the advantages she can while she lives, and leave her something when she dies. Mamma says, probably her whole fortune, or at any rate a big share. It's a grand chance! I do hope she'll take me!" "But," said Ruth, "I don't understand; why should she leave everything to one, after spending so much on her?" "Oh, to make up to her for giving up so much," said Jenny. "She's so cranky, you know!" "It won't be much fun to live with her," said Grace thoughtfully. "But think of the advantages! I'd have all the music lessons I want, and I'm sure she'd let me go to concerts and operas. Oh! Oh!"