hat Harriet Ackley had used
every cent of the Ackley money.

"I realize that we have to work," said she, "but my sister and I have
determined to keep the place."

That was the end of the discussion. Sophia and Amanda Gill had been
living in the old Ackley house a fortnight, and they had three
boarders: an elderly widow with a comfortable income, a young
congregationalist clergyman, and the middle-aged single woman who had
charge of the village library. Now the school-teacher from Acton, Miss
Louisa Stark, was expected for the summer, and would make four.

Sophia considered that they were comfortably provided for. Her wants
and her sister's were very few, and even the niece, although a young
girl, had small expenses, since her wardrobe was supplied for years to
come from that of the deceased aunt. There were stored away in the
garret of the Ackley house enough voluminous black silks and satins and
bombazines to keep her clad in somber richness for years to come.

Flora was a very gentle girl, with large, serious blue eyes, a
seldom-smiling, pretty mouth, and smooth flaxen hair. She was delicate
and very young--sixteen on her next birthday.

She came home soon now with her parcels of sugar and tea from the
grocer's. She entered the kitchen gravely and deposited them on the
table by which her Aunt Amanda was seated stringing beans. Flora wore
an obsolete turban-shaped hat of black straw which had belonged to the
dead aunt; it set high like a crown, revealing her forehead. Her dress
was an ancient purple-and-white print, too long and too large except
over the chest, where it held her like a straight waistcoat.

"You had better take off your hat, Flora," said Sophia. She turned
suddenly to Amanda. "Did you fill the water-pitcher in that chamber
for the schoolteacher?" she asked severely. She was quite sure that
Amanda had not filled the water-pitcher.

Amanda blushed and started guiltily. "I declare, I don't believe I
did," said she.

"I didn't think you had," said her sister with sarcastic emphasis.

"Flora, you go up to the room that was your Great-aunt Harriet's, and
take the water-pitcher off the wash-stand and fill it with water. Be
real careful, and don't break the pitcher, and don't spill the water."

"In THAT chamber?" asked Flora. She spoke very quietly, but her face
changed a little.

"Yes, in that chamber," returned her Aunt Sophia sharply. "Go right
along."

Flora went, and her light