spring," she said.
"Thank you for your good wishes, Mrs. Carne. It was very sweet of you to
remember me through all the troubles you have been through lately.
I am so glad my new home will be in Seacombe, where I know and love
everyone. I should have been very grieved if I had had to leave it.
Mona, what are you thinking about, to make you look so excited? You know
the doctor ordered you to keep calm! I don't know what he would say if he
saw you now. He would blame me for exciting you, and I should never be
allowed to come again."

"Oh, Miss Grace, I am calm--I really am. I won't be excited, I won't be
ill, but, oh, I must tell you--I thought of something as soon as ever I
heard there was to be a wedding--and oh, I wish you would--I am sure it
would be lovely. We want--all your Sunday School girls, I mean, Miss
Grace--to be allowed to come and strew flowers in your path as you come
out of church, and we'd all be dressed in white, and--and some would have
pink, and some blue in their hats, and--Oh, Miss Grace, do please think
about it and try and say 'Yes!'"

Grace Lester's eyes were misty with happy tears by the time Mona had done.
"Why, you nice, kind children," she cried, "to have such plans for making
my wedding day beautiful and happy! I had not thought of anything so
charming."

For a few moments she sat silent, thinking deeply, and Mona lay back on
her pillow watching her face. "Would she consent--Oh, would she?
It would almost be too lovely, though," she concluded. "It could not
really come true."

"Mona," said Miss Grace at last. "Do you know what I thought you might be
going to ask?"

Mona shook her head, her eyes were full of questioning.

"I thought, perhaps, you were going to ask if you might come and be my
little housemaid in my new home!"

"Oh--h--h!" Mona and her mother both exclaimed aloud and in the same tone
of delight. "Oh, Miss Grace!" Mona sprang up in her bed and clapped her
hands, bandages and all. "Oh, Miss Grace! do you really mean it?
That would be better than anything, because that would be for always.
Oh, mother," turning to Lucy, her face radiant, "wouldn't that be lovely!"

"Lovely," said Lucy, her eyes full of deep pleasure. "I wouldn't ask for
anything better for you, Mona. I think--I know, it'll be the best that
can possibly happen."

"How very nice of you, Mrs. Carne." Grace Lester pressed Lucy's hand.
"You make me feel--very, very proud--but--well, I will tr