hose yellow things in that glass jar?" Maida asked.

"Pickled limes," Dr. Pierce responded promptly. "How I used to love
them!"

"Oh, father, buy me a pickled lime," Maida pleaded. "I never had one
in my life and I've been crazy to taste one ever since I read
'Little Women.'"

"All right," Mr. Westabrook said. "Let's come in and treat Maida to
a pickled lime."

A bell rang discordantly as they opened the door. Its prolonged
clangor finally brought the old lady from the room at the back. She
looked in surprise at the three men in their automobile coats and at
the little lame girl.

Coming in from the bright sunshine, the shop seemed unpleasantly
dark to Maida. After a while she saw that its two windows gave it
light enough but that it was very confused, cluttery and dusty.

Mr. Westabrook bought four pickled limes and everybody ate--three of
them with enjoyment, Billy with many wry faces and a decided,
"Stung!" after the first taste.

"I like pickled limes," Maida said after they had started for
Boston. "What a funny little place that was! Oh, how I would like to
keep a little shop just like it."

Billy Potter started. For a moment it seemed as if he were about to
speak. But instead, he stared hard at Maida, falling gradually into
a brown study. From time to time he came out of it long enough to
look sharply at her. The sparkle had all gone out of her face. She
was pale and dream-absorbed again.

Her father studied her with increasing anxiety as they neared the
big house on Beacon Street. Dr. Pierce's face was shadowed too.

"Eureka! I've found it!" Billy exclaimed as they swept past the
State House. "I've got it, Mr. Westabrook."

"Got what?"

Billy did not answer at once. The automobile had stopped in front of
a big red-brick house. Over the beautifully fluted columns that held
up the porch hung a brilliant red vine. Lavender-colored glass, here
and there in the windows, made purple patches on the lace of the
curtains.

"Got what?" Mr. Westabrook repeated impatiently.

"That little job of the imagination that you put me on a few moments
ago," Billy answered mysteriously. "In a moment," he added with a
significant look at Maida. "You stay too, Dr. Pierce. I want your
approval."

The door of the beautiful old house had opened and a man in livery
came out to assist Maida. On the threshold stood an old
silver-haired woman in a black-silk gown, a white cap and apron, a little
black shawl pinned about h