aged to conceal
her nervousness and expectancy. Aunt Sabrina sat stiffly and looked
very tired and very old and, somehow, by a twist of her lips managed to
make Nancy understand that she, Nancy, was in deep disgrace and that in
due time sentence of punishment would be passed. Between B'lindy and
her mistress not a word was exchanged; B'lindy's head was tossed high
and there was an air of "sniffing" about her that, if it had not all
been so tragic, would have made the entire situation funny.

"Oh, what a _place_--what _funny_ people!" cried Nancy to the stars as
she leaned that night far out of her window. "How can I _stand_ it!
And why does not something happen quickly? It's just _like_ Aunt
Sabrina not to say a word and to keep me on pins and needles! That's
the same way she treated Aunt Milly and that poor boy--years ago!"
Thereupon Nancy let her fancy wander back to the "gay-spirited,
extravagant" brother and his story--Anne's grandfather. Had _he_
cared, she wondered, had he died longing to see again the old Island
home, or had it been a blessing--casting him out in the wide world. He
must have met fortune somewhere, for Anne's father had been wealthy.
Dear Anne--Nancy picked out the star that was farthest in the East and
addressed it reverently. "If you can see Anne and she can see you will
you tell her that she mustn't feel cross at the mess I've made of
things. I tried to be careful but I'm me and, anyway, all the
ignorance of her blessed peasants isn't any worse than the pride and
narrowness of her own relatives! Good-night, dearest Anne, for the
last time I go to sleep in my prison walls--to-morrow I die!"

However, the June sunshine of the next morning restored much of Nancy's
courage. She made quick note of a few good signs, and best of these
was when she surprised B'lindy vigorously tacking a cushion upon Miss
Milly's chair. B'lindy did not see Nancy and Nancy tip-toed away with
a smile.

Then, too, the glow was back in Miss Milly's face, and when Nancy ran
into her room, her hands full of roses, Miss Milly greeted her eagerly.

"I think the sun is shining to-day just for me," she laughed, waving
her hand to the windows from which the blinds had been drawn.

"And _I_ think," and Nancy cocked her head knowingly, "that B'lindy
will force an attack with the enemy about mid-day!"

Nancy was right in her prediction. At dinner B'lindy, clad in her
customary checked gingham apron, served them vea