ss
and manners and the good sense with which she answered the questions
put to her, pleased the ladies greatly. They saw that the housekeeper
had not spoken too highly of the farmer's daughter.

These two ladies were the sisters of Sir Arthur Somers. They were kind
and wise; kind in wishing to spread happiness among their poor
neighbors, and wise in wishing these people to be happy in their own
way. They did not wish to manage them, but only to help them. As Sir
Arthur was always willing to aid his sisters, it seemed as if they
would prove a blessing in in the village near which they had come to
live. When Susan took leave of the ladies, she was told they would
call at her home that evening at six o'clock. Such a grand event as
Susan's visit to the Abbey soon became known to Barbara Case and her
maid, and together they watched for her return.

"There she is! She has just gone into her garden," cried Bab; "we'll
run in at once and hear all about it."

Susan was gathering some marigolds and parsley for her mother's soup.
"Well, Susan, and how are things going with you to-day?" asked
Barbara.

"My mother is rather better, she says; thank you, ma'am."

"'Ma'am, how polite we have grown all of a sudden!" said Bab, winking
at her maid. "One can see you have been in good company. Come, tell us
all about it."

"Did you see the ladies themselves," asked Betty, "or only the
housekeeper?"

"What room were you in?" went on Bab. "Did you see Miss Somers or Sir
Arthur?"

"Miss Somers," replied Susan.

"Betty, she saw Miss Somers! I must hear about it. Susan, stop
gathering those things, and have a chat with us."

"I can't indeed, Miss Barbara, for my mother wants her soup, and I am
in a hurry." And Susan ran home.

"Would you believe it, her head is full of soup now?" said Bab to her
maid. "She seems to think nothing of her visit to the Abbey. My papa
may well call her _Simple Susan_. But simple or not I mean to get what
I want out of her. Maybe when she has settled the grand matter of the
soup, she'll be able to speak. I'll step in and ask to see her mother.
That will put her in a good humor in a trice."

Barbara went to the cottage and found Susan standing over a pot on the
fire. "Is the soup ready?" she asked. "I'll wait till you take it in
to your mother and go in with you. I want to ask her how she is,
myself."

"Sit down then, miss," said Susan, "I have put in the parsley, so the
soup is nearly ready."

Bar