e of Debby's absence and Miss Bethia's presence in the
house, still everything went smoothly, and all the more so that Miss
Bethia, who had had a varied experience in the way of long visits, knew
just when to sit still and seem to see nothing, and when to put forth a
helping hand. Her visits, as a general thing, were not without some
drawbacks, and if Mrs Inglis had had her choice, she would have
preferred that this one should have taken place when Debby's presence in
the kitchen would have left her free to attend to her guest. But this
was a visit altogether pleasant. There was not even the little jarring
and uncomfortableness, rather apt to arise out of her interest in the
children, and her efforts in their behalf. Not that she neglected them
or their affairs. David, of whom she saw most, had a feeling that her
eye was upon him whenever he was in the house, but her observation was
more silent than usual, and even when she took him to task, as she did
more than once, he did not for some reason or other, feel inclined to
resent her sharp little speeches as he had sometimes done. She did not
overlook him by any means, but asked a great many questions about his
books, and lessons, and amusements, and about when he was going to
college, and about what he was to be afterwards, and behind his back
praised him to his mother as a sensible, well-behaved boy, which, of
course, pleased his mother, and made David himself laugh heartily when
he heard of it.

Still, though her visit had been most agreeable, it was pleasant to be
alone again, when it came to an end, and little Jessie expressed what
the others only thought when she said:

"It's nice to have Miss Bethia come once in a while, and it's nice to
have her go away, too."

Debby did not come back, but everything went on as nearly as possible as
usual in her absence. They hoped to have her again, by and by, so no
effort was made to supply her place. If she could not come back, Violet
would possibly have to stay at home after the Christmas holidays to help
in the house, and in the meantime, David did what "a sensible,
well-behaved boy" might be expected to do, to supply her place. And
that was a great deal. David was a manly boy, and he was none the less
manly that he did a great many things for his mother, that boys are not
generally supposed to like to do. What those things were, need not be
told, lest boys not so sensible, should call his manliness in question,