"No," admitted Miss Upton reluctantly.

"Then you can take your time. Take these flowers upstairs, ask her what
size things she wears, and hurry up and catch the train."

Miss Upton brought her gaze back from its far-away look and she appeared
to come to herself. "Look here, Ben Barry, I'm not goin' to be crazy
just because you are. Her clean clothes'll be all ready for her by
night. I can buy her a sailor hat right here in the village and maybe a
jacket. She's got to go to town with me. The idea of buyin' a lot of
clothes and maybe not havin' 'em right."

"You're perfectly correct, Miss Upton."

The young man took out his pocket-book and handed his companion a bill.
"This is for your fares," he said.

Miss Mehitable's troubled brow cleared even while she blushed, seeing
that he had read her thoughts.

"I don't know as this is exactly proper, Ben," she said doubtfully.

"Take my word for it, it is," he replied. "Let me be your conscience for
a few weeks. I may not see you for a day or two. I have another little
job of kidnapping on hand; so I put you on your honor to do your part."

He was gone, and Miss Upton, placing the sturdy stems of the apple
blossoms in a pitcher of water, carried them upstairs. She tiptoed into
the room where Geraldine was in bed, but the girl was awake and gave an
exclamation of delight.

"Have you an apple tree, too?" she asked.

"No, Mr. Barry brought these over."

The girl's face sobered as she buried it in the blooms Miss Upton
offered. Miss Mehitable looked admiringly at the golden braids hanging
over the pillows.

"Do you feel rested?" she asked.

"Perfectly, and I know I have taken your bed. To-night we will make me a
nice nest on the floor."

Miss Upton smiled. "Oh, I've got a cot. We'll do all right. Do you
s'pose there is any way we could get your clothes from that fiend on the
farm?" she added.

Geraldine shrank and shook her head. "I wouldn't dare try," she replied.

"Then you and I've got to go to town to-morrow," said Miss Upton, "and
get you something."

The girl returned her look seriously and caught her lip under her teeth
for a silent space.

"Yes, I know what you're thinkin'," said Miss Mehitable cheerfully; "but
the queerest thing and the nicest thing happened to me this mornin'. I
got some money that I didn't expect. Just in the nick o' time, you see.
We can go to town and--"

Geraldine reached up a hand and took that of her friend, her face
grow