p nights nor eat days--she's
giving out.' Poor Miss Olivia!--but I can't understand Rebecca Mary."

"It's the Plummer in her," the little, white cat would have purred. "You
wait!"

Aunt Olivia turned back at the minister's study door. "Then you will?"
she said, eagerly. "You're perfectly willing to? I don't want to feel--"

"You needn't feel," the minister smiled. "I'm more than willing. I'm
delighted. But in the matter of--er--remuneration, I cannot let you--"

"You needn't let me," smiled Miss Olivia; "I'll do it without." She was
gently radiant. Her pitifully thin face, so transfigured, touched the
big heart of the minister. He went to his window and watched the slight
figure hurry away. He would scarcely have been surprised to see it turn
down the road that led towards the railway station.

"Oh, Robert!" It was the minister's wife at his elbow. "You dear boy, I
know you've promised! You needn't tell me a thing--didn't I suggest it
in the first place? Dear Miss Olivia--I'm so glad, Robert! So are you
glad, you minister!" But they were neither of them thinking of little,
stubbed-out shoes that would be easier to buy.

Aunt Olivia turned down the station road the next morning, in the
swaying old stage. Her eager gaze never left the plodding horses, as if
by looking at them she could make them go faster.

"They're pretty slow, aren't they?" she said.

"Slow--THEM? Well, I guess you weren't never a stage horse!" chuckled
the old man at the reins.

"No," admitted Aunt Olivia, "I never was, but I know I'd go faster
today."

At the Junction, halfway to Rebecca Mary, she descended alertly from the
train and crossed the platform. She must wait here, they told her, an
hour and twenty minutes. On the other side of the station a train was
just slowing up, and she stood a moment to scan idly the thin stream
of people that trickled from the cars. There were old women--did any of
them, she wondered, feel as happy as she did? There were tall children,
too. There was one--Aunt Olivia started a little and fumbled in her soft
hair, under the roses in her bonnet brim, for her glasses. There was
one tall child--she was coming this way--she was coming fast--she was
running! Her arms were out--

"Aunt Olivia! Aunt Olivia!" the Tall Child was crying out, joyously,
"Oh, Aunt Olivia!"

"Rebecca Mary!--my dear, my dear!"

They were in each other's arms. The roses on Aunt Olivia's bonnet brim
slipped to one side--the two of them