heart sank. She could not bear to think of any of Mother's
things being sold, but she was too much in awe of her aunt to say
anything.

"So I've come up this morning," pursued Mrs Greenways, producing an old
envelope and a stumpy pencil; "just to jot down what I want to keep.
And when I've done here, and fetched my breath a little, I'll go
upstairs and have a look round."

Mrs Greenways made her list, and then with a businesslike air tied
pieces of tape on all the things she had chosen. Lilac saw with dismay
that her own little stool and the high-backed chair were left out. It
was almost like leaving two old friends behind.

"Have you packed your clothes?" asked Mrs Greenways.

"No, Aunt, not yet," said Lilac.

"Well, I shall have to send Ben up with the cart this afternoon for your
box, so you may as well come alonger him. And mind this, Lilac. Don't
you go bringin' any litter and rubbish with you. Jest your clothes and
no more, and your Bible and Prayer Book. And now I'll go upstairs."

Mrs Greenways went upstairs, followed meekly by Lilac. She watched
passively while her aunt punched all the mattresses, placed a searching
finger beneath every sheet and blanket, sat down in the chairs, and
finally examined every article of Mrs White's wardrobe. "'Tain't any
of it much good to me," she said, holding up a cotton gown to the light.
"They're all cut so antiquated, and she was never anything of a figure.
You may as well keep 'em, Lilac, and they'll come in for you later."

It made Lilac's heart ache sorely to see her mother's clothes in Mrs
Greenways' hands turned about and talked over. There was one gown in
particular, with a blue spot. Mrs White had worn it on that last May
morning when she had stood at the gate, and it seemed almost a part of
her. When her aunt dropped it carelessly on the ground after her last
remark, Lilac picked it up and held it closely to her.

"And her Sunday bonnet now," continued Mrs Greenways discontentedly.
"All the ribbons is fresh and it's a good straw, but I don't suppose I
shall look anything but a scarecrow in it."

She perched it on her head as she spoke, and turned about before the
glass.

"'Tain't so bad," she murmured, with a glance at Lilac for approval.
There was no answer; for to her great surprise Mrs Greenways found that
her niece had hidden her face in the blue cotton gown she held to her
breast, and was sobbing quietly.

Mrs Greenways was a kind-hearte