There was a big lump in
her throat and a heaviness in her heart. How long and dreary the five
years looked!

"I'm not hungry," and she pushed the plate away.

"But you'll have some pudding and some cream. I told you, Maggie,
they'd stuff theirselves on that there puddin'! You can beat the band
on that."

"I'll just have the cream," the little girl said, timidly.

"Well you won't last long to take care of them there babies if you
can't eat better'n that!" said Katie. "I never see such squabs in my
life!"

"Oh, Katie, that won't do. They're 'Kate Greenaway' children. Was she
some one who fatted up young ones? Well, she'd better let 'em alone to
my thinkin'. And their great round eyes! And the crossest things I
ever did see! Mrs. Munson thought she'd have to give up t' other side
of the house."

"Be careful," cautioned Maggie, with a slight turn of the head.

Marilla ate her cream, and it really tasted good. Then she rose and
said good-night in a quiet fashion.

"Katie, you must remember about little pitchers," cautioned some one.

"Well--that's a nice little girl and I don't believe she'd carry
tales. Ellen said she wouldn't take care of those babies for ten
dollars a week. And what's this child ever going to do----"

"Mr. Borden is a nice kind of a man and when he's around that Jack
behaves like a little gentleman, and the ladies do very well; they're
pleasant and don't put on airs. But what they'll do with those
twins----"

"Well, they won't always be getting teeth. It's a hard time with
babies."

And so they gossiped while they washed dishes and set the kitchen in
order for morning. If they had ever been Cinderella they had forgotten
about it.

CHAPTER VIII

A NEW GLIMPSE OF SERVITUDE

Marilla wandered about a little. The stars were coming out and afar
off the wood robin was singing his low sweet song. The dew was
scattering the fragrance of flower and shrub and she drew in long
breaths of it that seemed to revive her. Was Miss Armitage sitting at
the organ and evoking the music that stirred one's very being and made
you wish unutterable things? And would Dr. Richards go to comfort some
poor patient tomorrow?

Then she went to her new home. Miss Florence sat alone on the porch.
The babies were soundly asleep.

"Did you have a nice dinner?" she asked. "And I suppose you are very
tired. Will you sit here awhile or would you rather go to bed?"

"Yes, I would like to go to bed," she answer