ve her make me some sort o'
signal in case she needed help. I used to plead with her to come down
and spend the winters with me, but she told me one day I might as well
try to fetch down one o' the old hemlocks, an' I believe 't was true."

"Your aunt Dallett is a very self-contained person," observed Mrs. Hand.

"Oh, very!" exclaimed the elderly niece, with a pleased look. "Aunt
Cynthy laughs, an' says she expects the time will come when age 'll
compel her to have me move up an' take care of her; and last time I was
there she looked up real funny, an' says, 'I do' know, Abby; I 'm most
afeard sometimes that I feel myself beginnin' to look for'ard to it!'
'T was a good deal, comin' from Aunt Cynthy, an' I so esteemed it."

"She ought to have you there now," said Mrs. Hand. "You 'd both make a
savin' by doin' it; but I don't expect she needs to save as much as
some. There! I know just how you both feel. I like to have my own
home an' do everything just my way too." And the friends laughed, and
looked at each other affectionately.

"There was old Mr. Nathan Dunn,--left no debts an' no money when he
died," said Mrs. Hand. "'T was over to his niece's last summer. He
had a little money in his wallet, an' when the bill for funeral
expenses come in there was just exactly enough; some item or other made
it come to so many dollars an' eighty-four cents, and, lo an' behold!
there was eighty-four cents in a little separate pocket beside the neat
fold o' bills, as if the old gentleman had known before-hand. His
niece could n't help laughin', to save her; she said the old gentleman
died as methodical as he lived. She did n't expect he had any money,
an' was prepared to pay for everything herself; she 's very well off."

"'T was funny, certain," said Miss Pendexter. "I expect he felt
comfortable, knowin' he had that money by him. 'T is a comfort, when
all's said and done, 'specially to folks that's gettin' old."

A sad look shadowed her face for an instant, and then she smiled and
rose to take leave, looking expectantly at her hostess to see if there
were anything more to be said.

"I hope to come out square myself," she said, by way of farewell
pleasantry; "but there are times when I feel doubtful."

Mrs. Hand was evidently considering something, and waited a moment or
two before she spoke. "Suppose we both walk up to see your aunt
Dallett, New Year's Day, if it ain't too windy and the snow keeps off?"
she prop