been counting every minute,--yes, every second for the past
twenty-four hours?" laughed the second girl, letting down her luxuriant
auburn mane and beginning to brush it vigorously. "But I had a
horrible dream last night. I thought she sent us her wedding
announcements, and we had to stay here all summer."

"False prophet! How dare you dream such a thing as that? Didn't we
have a letter from her just two days ago saying she would reach here on
to-day's train? And anyway, dreams always go by contraries, you know."

"It's mighty lucky they do in this case," Gloriana replied seriously.
"But I woke in a cold sweat, the dream was so very real. I couldn't
help wondering if something _had_ delayed her so she wouldn't reach
here as soon as we had expected."

"What a pessimist you are!" cried Tabitha, eyeing her companion in
surprise. "You are usually just the opposite. What is the matter with
you to-day, Glory?"

"Oh, I just somehow feel it in my bones that something is going to
happen----"

"To be sure! Miss Davis is coming home and relieve us of our job."

"Something disappointing, I mean.

"Well, you just get that feeling out of your bones right away!"
commanded Tabitha, thrusting the last pin into her shining, black hair
and whisking into her big, kitchen apron. "You must have the
rheumatism and that is bad for one's health. One more meal after this,
and--exit Tabitha Catt and Gloriana Holliday, housekeepers."

Gloriana laughed, as, with a comical flourish and backward courtesy,
the black-haired girl disappeared through the door, but her gay spirits
were contagious, and presently the younger maid joined her companion in
the kitchen, singing softly:

"'Maxwellton's braes are bonnie
Where early fa's the dew,
And 'twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.'"

"There, that sounds better," Tabitha commented. "Really, I was
beginning to get shivers of misgiving myself from your gloomy
forebodings in the other room. What shall we have for dinner in honor
of the occasion? Green peas, asparagus tips, French potatoes and
caramel pudding? Or shall we invest in some strawberries at two bits a
box and have shortcake for dessert?"

Merrily she skipped about the kitchen, making ready the simple
breakfast for the hungry brood; and when that was out of the way, and
the house swept and dusted, the two housekeepers began preparations for
an elaborate dinner.

"To celebrate our release