in September."

"To-day's the day. They sent word the middle o' the week. I thought you
might have heard of it. Yes, they changed the day. I been thinkin' we'd
talk it over, but you never can tell beforehand how it's goin' to be,
and 'taint worth while to wear a day all out before it comes." Mrs. Todd
gave no place to the pleasures of anticipation, but she spoke like
the oracle that she was. "I wish mother was here to go," she continued
sadly. "I did look for her last night, and I couldn't keep back the
tears when the dark really fell and she wa'n't here, she does so enjoy
a great occasion. If William had a mite o' snap an' ambition, he'd take
the lead at such a time. Mother likes variety, and there ain't but a
few nice opportunities 'round here, an' them she has to miss 'less she
contrives to get ashore to me. I do re'lly hate to go to the reunion
without mother, an' 'tis a beautiful day; everybody'll be asking where
she is. Once she'd have got here anyway. Poor mother's beginnin' to feel
her age."

"Why, there's your mother now!" I exclaimed with joy, I was so glad to
see the dear old soul again. "I hear her voice at the gate." But Mrs.
Todd was out of the door before me.

There, sure enough, stood Mrs. Blackett, who must have left Green Island
before daylight. She had climbed the steep road from the waterside so
eagerly that she was out of breath, and was standing by the garden fence
to rest. She held an old-fashioned brown wicker cap-basket in her hand,
as if visiting were a thing of every day, and looked up at us as pleased
and triumphant as a child.

"Oh, what a poor, plain garden! Hardly a flower in it except your bush
o' balm!" she said. "But you do keep your garden neat, Almiry. Are you
both well, an' goin' up country with me?" She came a step or two closer
to meet us, with quaint politeness and quite as delightful as if she
were at home. She dropped a quick little curtsey before Mrs. Todd.

"There, mother, what a girl you be! I am so pleased! I was just
bewailin' you," said the daughter, with unwonted feeling. "I was just
bewailin' you, I was so disappointed, an' I kep' myself awake a good
piece o' the night scoldin' poor William. I watched for the boat till
I was ready to shed tears yisterday, and when 'twas comin' dark I kep'
making errands out to the gate an' down the road to see if you wa'n't in
the doldrums somewhere down the bay."

"There was a head-wind, as you know," said Mrs. Blackett, giving m