rushes since the children's coming, and she had hoped
that this one afternoon would be free from interruption, when she heard
them planning their afternoon's occupations at the lunch-table. They had
come back before the little water-colour sketch she was making was
quite finished.

There was no disappointment, however, in the bright face she turned
toward them, and Virginia lost no time in beginning her story. She had
been elected to tell it, but before it was done all three had had a part
in the telling, and all three were waiting with wistful eyes for
her answer.

"Well, what is it you want me to do?" she asked, finally.

"Oh, just be on our side!" they exclaimed, "and get grandmother to say
yes. You see she doesn't feel about Jonesy the way we do. She is willing
to pay a great deal of money to have him taken off and cared for, but
she says she doesn't see how grandchildren of hers can be so interested
in a little tramp that comes from nobody knows where, and who will
probably end his days in a penitentiary."

Aunt Allison answered Malcolm's last remark a little sternly. "You must
understand that it is only for your own good that she is opposed to
Jonesy's staying," she said. "There is nobody in the valley so generous
and kind to the poor as your grandmother." "Yes'm," said Virginia,
meekly, "but you'll ask her, won't you please, auntie?"

Miss Allison smiled at her persistence. "Wait until I finish this," she
said. "Then I'll go down-stairs and put the matter before her, and
report to you at dinner-time. Now are you satisfied?"

"Yes," they cried in chorus, "you're on our side. It's all right now!"
With a series of hearty hugs that left her almost breathless, they
hurried away.

When Miss Allison kept her promise she did not go to her mother with the
children's story of Jonesy, to move her to pity. She told her simply
what they wanted, and then said, "Mother, you know I have begun to teach
the children the 'Vision of Sir Launfal.' Virginia has learned every
word of it, and the boys will soon know all but the preludes. There will
never be a better chance than this for them to learn the lesson:

"'Not what we give, but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare.'

"This would be a real sharing of themselves, all their time and best
energies, for they will have to work hard to get up such an
entertainment as this. It isn't for Jonesy's sake I ask it, but for the
children's own good."

T