thing she could think of to say:

"We'll go strawberrying to-morrow, and I'll save you the very best
place. Besides, I've got a tart upstairs I've been saving for you, and
you can eat it when we go up to bed. I think things taste real nice in
bed. Don't you?"

"Look here, Gypsy, do you know I love you ever so much?"

"You do! Well, isn't that funny? I was just thinking how much I loved
you. Besides, I'm real glad you're going to live here always."

"Why, I thought you'd be sorry."

"I should have once," said Gypsy honestly. "But that's because I was
ugly. I don't think I could get along without you possibly--no, not
anyway in the world. Just think how long we've slept together, and what
'gales' we do get into when our lamp goes out and we can't find the
matches! You see I never had anybody to get into gales with before."

Somebody rang the door-bell just then, and the conversation was broken
up.

"Joy, have you a mind to go?" asked Mrs. Breynton. "Patty is out, this
evening."

"Why! whoever it is, they've come right in," said Joy, opening the door.

A man was there in the entry;--a man with heavy whiskers and a valise.

The rest of them sitting back there in the dark waited, wondering a
little who it could be coming in Sunday night. And this is what they
heard:

"Joyce, little Joyce!--why, don't be frightened, child; it's nobody but
father."

CHAPTER XIV

GOOD BYE

They were alone together in the quiet room--Peace Maythorne and Joy.
The thick yellow sunlight fell in, touching the old places,--the wall
where Gypsy's blue and golden text was hanging,--a little patch of the
faded carpet, the bed, and the folded hands upon it, and the peaceful
face.

Joy had crept up somewhat timidly into Gypsy's place close by the
pillow. She was talking, half sadly, half gladly, as if she hardly knew
whether to laugh or cry.

"You see, we're going right off in this noon train, and I thought I
_must_ come over and say good-bye."

"I'm real sorry to have you go--real."

"Are you?" said Joy, looking pleased. "Well, I didn't suppose you'd
care. I do believe you care for everybody, Peace."

"I try to," said Peace, smiling. "You go in rather a hurry, don't you
Joy?"

"Yes. It's just a week since father came. He wants to stay a while
longer, dreadfully, but he says his business at home can't be put off,
and of course I'm going with him. Do you know, Peace, I can't bear to
have him out of the room five minutes,