lly unkind or severe with her and she could
recall some tenderness at the last on Aunt Hetty's part, but the death
always made her shudder.

These days of affliction had been so sweet, so engrossing. She had not
dared to love Miss Armitage in this fashion in the beginning. She
loved her deeply, truly, now, and her heart smote her in spite of the
thrill of joy when she thought of Dr. Richard's love, of belonging to
him. Would she leave her for the new love? She had not the courage to
mention it, but there were so many other things to say.

Every day brought something new. They went to the wonderful museum.
She could not take in half, but Dr. Richards said no one could. You
came time and again, all your life, and always found something new.
And there were the Historical Society rooms with their marvellous
collection of birds that enchanted her.

They spent a delightful evening at the Firths, though she decided she
liked Uncle Warren the better. The Firth house was very handsomely
appointed, but it did not have so much the air of home where you
could sit on the arm of the chair and say all manner of childish
things.

Mrs. Firth was very stout, but she had a really pretty face and a
voice that won you with a certain caressing mellowness. Both cheeks
had a deep dimple and a crease went from one to the other that seemed
to define the first chin. She sat in a high backed chair and Marilla
thought she looked like a princess, and her gown made the child think
of the beautiful dresses in the fairy place.

But on Friday Dr. Richards said they _must_ go back to Newton. They
would come again however, there was still a little business to settle.
It was a sad parting, and when Marilla took her seat in the train she
turned her face to the window and surreptitiously wiped away the
tears, though she longed to see fairy godmother.

The hack whirled them to Loraine place. The great trees stood like
sentinels stretching out their bare limbs. The beautiful autumn, had
gone, you noted it more here. Up the stoop--how her heart beat, and
yet somehow she seemed as if she had lived another lifetime.

"Oh dear, dear Marilla," cried Jane with the warmest embrace. "We have
missed you so much, and are so glad to get you back. Why it hasn't
seemed the same house, and everybody has wanted you. Dr. Richards,
that Mrs. McCormick died this morning and Miss Armitage was there
until noon. Five little children left, think of it, she came home and
we