here Jenny found her voice, and protested. Miss Peace should not
have anything at all to do with all that. 'Twasn't fitting she should,
as the nearest kin poor Mr. Means had in Cyrus. Her father would see
to it all, Jenny knew he would, and Doctor Brown would help him. She
would go herself and speak to the doctor this minute. Miss Peace would
have to be here to tell the children when they came home from school,
poor little things! and that was all she should do about it.

Anne Peace hesitated; and then Jenny had an inspiration, or, as she
put it in telling Tudie Peaslee afterwards, "a voice spoke to her."

"Miss Peace," she said timidly, "I--I don't suppose you would feel to
pick those flowers you were going to send over to Tupham for the
Sunday-school festival? I know they kind o' lot on the flowers you
send, 'cause they're always so fresh, and you do them up so pretty.
But if you don't feel to do it, I can send them word, or ask some one
else"--

"The idea!" cried Anne Peace, brightening up. "I forgot the flowers,
Jenny, I did so! I should be pleased to pick them, and I'll do it this
minute. There--there isn't anything I should like so well. And I do
thank you, dear, and if you really think your father wouldn't mind
seeing--I am sure it is a privilege to have such neighbours, I always
say. There couldn't anybody be more blessed in neighbours than I have
always been."

In ten minutes Miss Peace was at work in her garden, cutting,
trimming, tying up posies, and finding balm for her inward wound in
the touch of the rose-leaves, and in the smell of mignonette, David's
favourite flower. No one in Cyrus had such mignonette as Miss Peace,
and people thought she had some special receipt for making it grow and
blossom luxuriantly; but she always said no, it was only because she
set by it. Folks could most always grow the things they set most
store by, she thought.

So the Sunday-school festival at Tupham Corner was a perfect blaze of
flowers, and the minister in his speech made allusion to generous
friends in other parishes, who sent of their wealth to swell our
rejoicings, and of their garden produce to gladden our eyes; but while
the eyes of Tupham were being gladdened, Anne Peace was brushing
Joey's and Georgie's hair, and tying black ribbons under their little
chins, smiling at them through her tears, and bidding them be brave
for dear father's sake, who was gone to the best home now, and would
never be sick any more