ns of a morning in the blue
and gold world were shaping themselves in the girl's mind. No doubt Jane
Howe would go with her; probably Martin would be too busy to leave his
work; but if he were not, what a bit of Paradise they could have
together!

Ellen, who read her niece's thoughts almost as readily as if they had been
openly expressed, smiled a malevolent smile.

"It's a good four miles to the Ridge," she remarked. "Goin', comin', an'
pickin' would take you the whole mornin', I reckon."

"I'm afraid it would," agreed Lucy. "Could you spare me as long as that?"

"Yes. I don't need nothin'; an' if I do, Melviny can get it. I'd rather
have you go than not. If you could get me enough berries for a shortcake
it would be worth it."

The note of suppressed eagerness in the words caused Lucy to regard her
aunt with quick, indefinable suspicion.

But Ellen met the glance unflinchingly, and with a baffled sense of being
mistaken the girl hurried from the room. When she returned shortly
afterward and paused in the doorway, she presented a winning picture.

She had donned a short khaki skirt and a pair of riding leggings such as
she had been accustomed to wear in the West, and the broad sombrero
crowning her golden hair outlined it like a halo. A simple blouse turned
away to give freedom to the firm white throat completed the costume.
Dimpling with anticipation, she held up her tin pail.

"I'm off, Aunt Ellen," she called. "You shall have your shortcake if there
is a berry within five miles."

The woman listened to the fall of the light step on the stairs and the
fragment of a song that came from the girl's lips until the last note of
the music died away; then she called Melvina.

"Melviny!"

"Yes, marm."

"I want you should find Tony and tell him to harness up. There's
somethin' I need done in the village."

"All right, Miss Webster."

"Bring me a sheet of paper an' a pencil before you go."

The nurse entered with the desired articles.

"I'm sendin' to town for Lawyer Benton," announced the patient with
elaborate carelessness.

Neither Melvina's voice nor her face expressed the slightest curiosity.

"There's some business I must see to right away, an' I reckon I may's well
get it fixed up this mornin'."

"Yes, marm."

"Give Tony this note for Mr. Benton and tell him to fetch him back soon's
he can."

Nodding acquiescence, Melvina disappeared.

During the interval between the time the wheels rattled