d change," she murmured; "but he's moved back now into
the old quarters. Er--you haven't heard from Uncle William then, lately,
I take it."

"No." Aunt Hannah shook her head abstractedly. "I did see him once,
several weeks ago; but I haven't, since. We had quite a talk, then;
and, Billy, I've been wanting to speak to you," she hurried on, a little
feverishly. "I didn't like to leave, of course, till you did come home,
as long as you'd said nothing about your plans; but--"

"Leave!" interposed Billy, dazedly. "Leave where? What do you mean?"

"Why, leave here, of course, dear. I mean. I didn't like to get my room
while you were away; but I shall now, of course, at once."

"Nonsense, Aunt Hannah! As if I'd let you do that," laughed Billy.

Aunt Hannah stiffened perceptibly. Her lips looked suddenly thin and
determined. Even the soft little curls above her ears seemed actually to
bristle with resolution.

"Billy," she began firmly, "we might as well understand each other at
once. I know your good heart, and I appreciate your kindness. But I can
not come to live with you. I shall not. It wouldn't be best. I should
be like an interfering elder brother in your home. I should spoil your
young married life; and if I went away for two months you'd never forget
the utter joy and freedom of those two months with the whole house ali
to yourselves."

At the beginning of this speech Billy's eyes had still carried their
dancing smile, but as the peroration progressed on to the end, a dawning
surprise, which soon became a puzzled questioning, drove the smile away.
Then Billy sat suddenly erect.

"Why, Aunt Hannah, that's exactly what Uncle William--" Billy stopped,
and regarded Aunt Hannah with quick suspicion. The next moment she burst
into gleeful laughter.

Aunt Hannah looked grieved, and not a little surprised; but Billy did
not seem to notice this.

"Oh, oh, Aunt Hannah--you, too! How perfectly funny!" she gurgled. "To
think you two old blesseds should get your heads together like this!"

Aunt Hannah stirred restively, and pulled the black shawl more closely
about her.

"Indeed, Billy, I don't know what you mean by that," she sighed, with a
visible effort at self-control; "but I do know that I can not go to live
with you."

"Bless your heart, dear, I don't want you to," soothed Billy, with gay
promptness.

"Oh! O-h-h," stammered Aunt Hannah, surprise, mortification, dismay, and
a grieved hurt bringing a flood of