and uncertain his steps had grown
since then. At the gate he turned and waved his hand, and she in turn
fluttered her little white handkerchief. Then she sat down with the
handkerchief over her head, and sobbed for full five minutes.

"There are things in life one cannot comprehend," she muttered to
herself, "things we cannot dare to meddle with or try to alter;
Providences, I suppose, they are. If God had made a man like that for
me, of my own age, and given him opportunities suited to his capacities,
and he had loved me as this man loves, what a life ours would have
been!"

The summer weather and bracing north-west breezes from the ocean
renewed, in a measure, Mrs. Smiley's health, and restored her cheerful
spirits; and, if she missed her old friend, she kept silent about it, as
she did about most things that concerned herself. To Willie's
questioning she gave those evasive replies children are used to receive;
but she frequently told him, in talks about his future, that Mr. Chillis
had promised to send him to college, and that as long as he lived he
must love and respect so generous a friend. "And, Willie," she never
failed to add, "if ever you see an old man who is in need of anything;
food, or clothes, or shelter; be very sure that you furnish them, as far
as you are able." She was teaching him to pay his debt: "for, inasmuch
as ye have done it unto the least of these," he had done it unto his
benefactor.

September came, and yet no news had arrived from beyond the mountains.
Captain Rumway's house was finished up to the last touch of varnish. The
lawn, and the shrubbery, and fence were all just as they should be; yet,
so far as anybody knew, no mistress had been provided for them, when,
one warm and hazy afternoon, Mrs. Smiley received an invitation to look
at the completed mansion, and pass her judgment upon it.

"I am going to furnish it in good style," said its master, rather
vauntingly, Mrs. Smiley thought, "and I hoped you would be so good as to
give me your assistance in making out a list of the articles required to
fit the house up perfectly, from parlor to kitchen."

"Any lady can furnish a list of articles for each room, Mr. Rumway, more
or less costly, as you may order; but only the lady who is to live in
the house can tell you what will please _her_;" and she smiled the very
shadow of a superior smile.

Mr. Rumway had foolishly thought to get his house furnished according to
Mrs. Smiley's taste,