know all that poor Miss
Leavitt's _had_ to stand, what with her brother and _then_ her sister!
And _that's_ why, I said to Cyrus, Miss Leavitt _ought_ to know about
these goings on, or else something _else_ would come down on your poor
head! I must run along, now, 'Manthy came in to watch my jam. That
Carroll girl I got over at Greenfield isn't worth her keep--you have to
watch her _every_ moment!"

All the pride of generations of Leavitts must have come to Miss
Sabrina's rescue at that moment! She met the final thrust with calm
dignity.

"My niece is only making me a very short visit, Mrs. Eaton. It is
hardly worth while for me to interfere with her conduct."

Nancy was struck dumb with amazement. What did Aunt Sabrina mean--that
_this_ silly little affair ended her stay at Happy House? What _would_
Anne think? Oh, _what_ a mess she had made of everything! Of course
she had expected that something might happen any moment; after one day
had safely passed, she had always thought it might be the next; had she
not told Anne that she was certain to make some dreadful blunder? But
it was a shame to go away in disgrace when she had not really done
anything, after all!

Indignation of the most righteous sort began slowly to master Nancy's
consternation. Well, if she did have to go she would allow herself,
just once, the sweet satisfaction of telling Miss Sabrina what she
thought of the Leavitts and their sense of honor! She rushed headlong
into the sitting-room.

"I heard what that--that creature said," she blurted out. "I don't
_know _why God makes women like that! What would you _think_, Aunt
Sabrina, if you'd seen her take a whip and lash those children across
their bare bodies? And that wouldn't have been as bad as what she
really _did_ do, for those hurts would have healed, and the way she
hurt their spirits wouldn't _ever_ heal! She is cruelly unjust--and
unkind!"

Poor Miss Sabrina looked very old and very tired--far too tired to meet
this impetuous attack! Something in the unyieldingness of her
expression drove Nancy to utter abandon.

"Oh, I suppose I'll have--to go away! But I'm glad--everything is all
wrong at Happy House. There's no happiness here--at all.
Fath--someone I love used to tell me that happiness comes to you as you
_give_ happiness, and that's what's the matter here--you don't give
happiness! You live--apart--and you just wrap yourself round with the
traditions of the Leavit