o not know your grandmother very well. I have scarcely spoken
a dozen words to her in my life."

"I feel afraid to tell her," Bet said. "Do come along, please, Mrs.
Harrison."

Patience did not like to refuse the earnest pleading of poor Bet. Just
as they reached the back door--for Bet never entered at the front--she
paused.

"Little Miss Joy won't care for me, or no one, now that she has got her
mother. I say, is it wicked? I almost wish Aunt Maggie had never come
back. Little Miss Joy will belong to her now, and--she won't care for
me."

"Bet," Patience said, "all love that is very, very strong for any
person is likely to lead to jealousy; take care, for jealousy would
make you unhappy. True love thinks nothing of itself in comparison
with the person beloved. Whatever is for the good and for the
happiness of any one we love, should make us happy also. Try to see
that."

"I can't," said poor Bet. "I'd like little Miss Joy to love me, that I
would; and I thought she was beginning to love me, and now she'll have
her mother, and never want me."

"Or _me_," Mrs. Harrison said. "I might say the same; but I think it
would be a great mistake if I did, for I believe dear little Joy will
love you and me and Uncle Bobo just the same as ever."

"Do you?" Bet said; "that's good to hear;" and then Bet opened the door
and went up the long narrow passage to the front of the house.

Mrs. Skinner was seated by the table in the kitchen, stiff and
straight; her hands were folded, and she only nodded as Bet put the
basket on the table with both her tired arms.

"Grannie, Mrs. Harrison is come to see you."

"I don't want Mrs. Harrison," was the reply.

"I won't stay long, Mrs. Skinner," Patience said. Mrs. Skinner's back
was turned to the door, and she never moved her position.

Patience advanced to her side and said--

"Bet thought you would like to hear some good news."

"There is never good news for me," was the answer, in a tone so hard
and yet so pathetic that Patience's heart was touched.

"A wanderer has come home," Mrs. Harrison said.

"Oh! your scapegraces I suppose. My son Joe has a very bad opinion of
him--I can tell you that."

Mrs. Harrison took no notice of this thrust, but said--

"No, my boy has not come home; but your daughter has returned. She is
little Joy's mother."

"What!" exclaimed Mrs. Skinner; "I don't believe it."

"Well, it is true; and you have only to come to Mr. Boyd's t