ugh."

"Thank you, Rufus," said the old lady, and there were tears in her eyes.
"Your grandmother was a fine woman."

"'Deed she was," admitted Mr. Castle, who was getting out of the car
heavily. He now came forward and kissed his mother warmly. "Well, if you
like this, I don't see why you shouldn't have it," he added, standing off
and looking at her plain dress, and her cap, and the little shawl over
her shoulders.

The girls and Master Tom had already kissed her; now Mrs. Castle the
younger got down and pecked at her mother-in-law's cheek.

"I'm sure," she said, "I've always done everything to make you feel at
home with us, Mother Castle. I've tried to make you one of the family
right along. And you belong to the same clubs I do. Surely----"

"That's just exactly it!" cried the little old lady, shaking her head. "I
don't belong in the same clubs with you. I don't want to belong to any
club--unless it's a grandmothers' club. And I want simple living--and
country air----"

"And all these Rubes?" chuckled Mr. Castle, waving his hand to take in
the surrounding country.

"Quite so, Rufus. But you would better postpone your criticisms until----
Ah, let me introduce my son, Mr. Colesworth," she added, as the old
gentleman and Harris appeared from the side yard. "And young Mr. Harris
Colesworth, of the Commonwealth Chemical Company. Perhaps you've heard of
the Colesworths, Rufus?"

"Bless us and save us!" murmured Mr. Castle. "You're from Easthampton,
too?"

The old lady continued to introduce her family to the Brays, to Mr.
Somers, and even to Professor Spink. The latter came forward with a
flourish.

"Spink--Lemuel Judson Spink, M.D., proprietor of Stonehedge Bitters, and
Diamond Grits, the breakfast of the million," the professor explained,
bowing low before Mrs. Rufus Castle.

"And these two smart girls I have adopted as grandchildren, too," declared
the older Mrs. Castle, drawing Lyddy and 'Phemie forward. "These are the
hard-working, cheerful, kind-hearted girls who make this delightful home
at Hillcrest for us all."

"Oh, Mrs. Castle makes too much of what we do," said Lyddy, softly. "You
see, 'Phemie and I are only too glad to have a grandmother; we do not
remember ours."

"And, God forgive me! I'd almost forgotten what mine was like," said Mr.
Castle, softly, eyeing his old mother with misty vision.

"Well, now!" spoke the old lady, briskly, "do you suppose you could
find enough in that pantry of y