armed to discover that it was beginning to rain.

"Now we can sit around the fire after dinner and tell stories," she
said, putting away her papers in an old checker-board.

Their cousin, like their aunt, was generally willing to do what the
children wished, so they made a sociable group in the library after
dinner.

"Let's play something first," suggested Miss Hazeltine, taking
possession of the sleepy-hollow chair.

"'I Have a Thought,'" Aunt Zelie proposed; "little Helen likes that."

"I have a thought that rhymes with deep," announced Carl.

"Is it what Cousin Helen will do if she sits in that chair?" asked
Bess.

"Thank you, miss, I am not such a sleepy-head as you think," said her
cousin, with pretended indignation.

It was not till some one had a thought rhyming with "better" that
Louise was reminded of the letters the postman left.

"There are two, Auntie," she said, bringing them; "one is from
Father."

"Yes, just a note to say he will be at home to-morrow at three. I
don't know this writing," opening the other.

"Why, it is from Miss Lyons, Aunt Mary's companion!" she exclaimed,
looking at the signature.

"You are frowning, Aunt Zelie," remarked Carl.

"Don't keep us in suspense, Zelie. Is there anything wrong?" asked her
cousin.

"Nothing really serious. Aunt Mary fell and broke her ankle, and will
have to stay in bed for several weeks; but the trouble is Miss Lyons's
brother is very ill and she has to go to him."

"So that is it? And she wants some one to take her place for a while,
I suppose. I'd go in a minute if Father and Mother were not away."

"Of course you could not go, Helen. I am the one. Frank will be at
home, and Sukey is here to take care of the children. I wish I had had
this sooner; I must telegraph to Miss Lyons that I will take the nine
o'clock train to-morrow."

While she was speaking the children were silent from astonishment, but
a wail arose presently.

"Why can't Aunt Mary take care of herself?"

"What shall we do without you?"

"Don't go, _please_ don't go!"

"Children, I must; think of poor Miss Lyons."

"If you put on such long faces when she is only going sixty miles away
for a few weeks, what would you do if she should go away to live?"
asked Cousin Helen.

"But she never will do that, for she has promised," said Carl
confidently.

Bess's face suddenly brightened. "It will be helping, to let her go,
won't it?"

"I suppose so," sighed Louise, "but