will never worry you on
that score again, mother--he nor any other man. When a woman gets near
to forty, with more silver than gold in her hair, and the best of her
useless life is behind her, she need expect no change in her estate,
that's sure."

"Ye might be a good deal wuss off," sniffed her mother.

"Perhaps that is so," agreed Miss 'Rill, with a sudden hard little
laugh. "But don't you take pattern by me, Janice, no matter what folks
tell you. Mrs. Beasely is better off than I am. She has the memory of
doing for somebody whom she loved and who loved her. While I----Well,
I'm just an old maid, and when you say that about a woman, you say the
worst!"

"Why, the idee!" exclaimed her mother, with wrath. "I call that flyin'
right in the face of Providence."

"I don't believe that God ever had old maids in the original scheme of
things."

"Humph! didn't He?" snapped Mrs. Scattergood. "Then why is there so many
more women than men in the world? Will you please tell me _that_,
Amarilla?" and this unanswerable argument closed what Janice realized
was not the first discussion of the unpleasant topic, between the
ex-schoolteacher and her sharp-tongued mother.

CHAPTER XXVI

JUST HOW IT ALL BEGAN

It was one of those soft, irresponsible days of April. The heavens
clouded up and wept like a naughty child upon the least pretext; yet
between the showers the sun warmed the glad earth, and coaxed the
catkins into bloom, and even expanded the first buds of the huge lilac
bush at the corner of the Day house.

This was a special occasion; one could easily guess that from the bustle
manifest about the place. Aunt 'Mira and Janice had been busy since
light. Mrs. Day was not in the habit of "givin' things a lick and a
promise" nowadays when she cleaned house. No, indeed! They gave the
house a "thorough riddin' up," and were scarcely through at dinner-time.

Then they hurried the dinner dishes out of the way, drove Marty and his
father out of the house and hurried to change into fresh frocks; for
company was expected.

The ladies' sewing circle of the Union Church was to meet with Mrs.
Day. These meetings of late had become more like social gatherings than
formerly. The afternoon session was better attended; then came a hearty
supper to which the ladies' husbands, brothers, or sweethearts were
invited; and everything wound up with a social evening.

Aunt 'Mira and Janice had made many extra preparations for the oc