ng blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all inclined
that way.

"If those two young people are lookin' forward to anythin' like as much
fun as I am," she said over and over again, "well, all is they're lookin'
forward to a good deal."

"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said Burnett; "well, I don't know!"

"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.

"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He knows just how I feel an' I know
jus' how he feels. It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were
born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know just how to set about it."

"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head," said Mitchell, rolling a
cigarette. "She has not only hit the nail on its own head, but she has
succeeded in driving its point well into all our heads. She taught us many
things during her short visit. I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for
joy, from now on!"

Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured; "to think how nice it all
come out, and how really put out I was when Jack first began, too."

Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some gum.

"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew gum, do you?"

"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly; "that's why he had it in
his pocket."

Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.

"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin' I've been missin'."

Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell went the day after.

The carpenters took down the addition, and the wedding presents were
shipped to town.

"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to Joshua.

"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.

"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such hifalutin sky-larkin'!"

Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised him of Aunt Mary's
arrangements in his behalf and he felt no inclination to criticize any of
her doings and sayings.

Toward the end of the next week this telegram was received.

Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when you are. Telegraph what
train.

J. and J.

The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten in the morning. Her fingers
trembled as she opened it.

"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the next minute, "I do believe, if
you'll be quick, that I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua to
get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick as he can. He can telegraph
that I'm comin' after I'm gone."

Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.

"She wants