know what to say. I thought we might have had a cottage somewhere
in one of the suburbs--with a little garden, and that I might have kept
fowls, and have had heaps and heaps of flowers. Surely fowls would be
economical, but I am sure I can't say. I really don't know anything
whatever about the matter."

"Why are you talking in that funny way half-aloud to yourself, Hilda?"
asked a little voice with a sad inflection in it.

Hilda slightly turned her head and saw that Judy had softly opened the
door of her bedroom, and was standing in the entrance.

Judy had an uncertain manner about her which was rather new to her
character, and her face had a somewhat haggard look, unnatural and not
pleasant to see in so young a child.

"Oh, pet, is that you?" said Hilda. "Come and give me a kiss--I am just
longing for you--you're the person of all others to consult. Come along
and sit down by me. Now, now--you don't want to strangle me, do you?"

For Judy had rushed upon her sister like a little whirlwind, her strong
childish arms were flung with almost ferocious tightness round Hilda's
neck, the skirt of her short frock had swept Jasper's letter to the
floor, and even upset an ink-pot in its voluminous sweep.

"Oh, oh!" said Hilda, "I must wipe up this mess. There, Judy, keep back
for a moment; it will get upon the carpet, and spoil it if we are not as
quick as possible. Hand me that sheet of blotting-paper, dear. There
now, that is better--I have stopped the stream from descending too far.
Why, Judith, my dear, you have tears in your eyes. You don't suppose I
care about the ink being spilt when I get a hug like that from you."

"I wasn't crying about the ink," said Judy; "what's ink! The tears came
because I am so joyful."

"You joyful? and to-day?" said Hilda. "You know what has happened, don't
you, Judy?"

"We are poor instead of rich," said Judy; "what's that? Oh, I am so
happy--I am so awfully happy that I scarcely know what to do."

"What a queer little soul you are! Now, now, am I to be swept up in
another embrace?"

"Oh, yes, let me, let me--I haven't kissed you like this since you,
you--you got _engaged_."

"In what a spiteful way you say that last word, Judy; now I come to
think of it, we _have_ scarcely kissed each other since. But whose fault
was that? Not mine, I am sure. I was quite hungry for one of your
kisses, jewel, and now that I have got it I feel ever so much better.
Sit down by me, and let us talk.