“The fact is, Mrs. Lorraine, Anna knows of people that will take the child,” Miss Penny owned. “That’s the queer part of it--she wanted a baby for these very people. Of course, she wouldn’t have had--but after this afternoon--it’s Saturday, you know--I can probably tell you all about it. And--O Mrs. Lorraine, I hope you won’t feel that you must leave me right away. I have enjoyed having you here so much. And it is such a relief to have an older person to talk to now all this has happened. Dear me! it’s almost like having Reuben back--and I have only known you a week.” Mrs. Lorraine smiled. “We will stay as long as you are alone, Miss Penny,” she assured her. “There is nothing to call us back after all to that bare little cottage.” “Then--O Mrs. Lorraine, why not spend the winter with me?” Miss Penny cried eagerly. “It would make me so happy. You could have a separate sitting-room, if you liked and--O, you would be here Christmas to see Reuben! And Anna ought to be at home while Rusty’s away, anyhow. It is so hard on her mother lending her to me. I feel troubled about it all the time--and yet, I cannot get on alone. And of course I would pay Alice just as I do Anna so that it needn’t make any difference and you can do your embroidery as well here as--O Mrs. Lorraine, we could get back my other cow and make butter! We both love to do it and I am sure you could make more money in that way and--O don’t say no! Dear me! I wish Mr. Langley would come in!” “I won’t say no, and I will think it over. And we will stay on anyhow until Anna gets rested, and so we may as well get the cow back in the shed and begin making butter,” returned Mrs. Lorraine quietly though not without secret excitement. At dinner, Alice could not eat and her mother was distressed. Afterwards she persuaded Miss Penny to lie down and then told Alice to go to her room to rest. Not long afterwards the girl appeared in the living-room in her prettiest suit with a jaunty little hat over her dark plaits. Mrs. Lorraine looked up in some surprise. “You are going out, Alice?” “Yes, mother, I want--I am going for a walk. I think--I will walk down to the cottage and bring back--some things.” “But I can’t go with you and I don’t like your going into that empty house alone.” “O it’s perfectly safe. They say it’s safe everywhere about Farleigh,” murmured Alice uneasily. “Alice, you must not do it,” declared Mrs. Lorraine with new decision--for it was wise and kind and _motherly_. “Very well, I won’t go in,” said Alice in an odd voice.