look it
over to-morrow. Now, how's that?"

"Why, but, Cousin Lorando--I--there isn't time--I hadn't planned--"

"Lord, neither had I, but what's the difference? If you want a thing
done, go and do it yourself. Wouldn't you like to go? It's lovely
up there; the spring's coming on fast, you know. I got lots of
pussy-willow, and some little fellows told me there were May-flowers
somewhere. You'll see more grass in a minute there than you can hunt up
here in a week. Come on, Cousin Jule!"

"I believe I will!" said Miss True-man, with conviction.

"Just pack up a bag for your aunt, Carrie, while I get a cab," said Mr.
Bean from the doorway. "We're going up to the old place--I'm thinking of
buying it. I expect we'll be back tomorrow."

"Your cousin appears to be a person of decision," Mrs. Ranger suggested
to the still dazed Elise, as the cab rolled away.

"I don't understand Aunt Ju-ju at all," Carolyn interpolated crossly.
She had not been in the habit of packing her aunt's bag. "She usually
makes such a fuss about starting to go anywhere--days ahead, in fact.
And now at fifteen minutes' notice! And her best gown!"

"It makes a difference, having a man to run it," said the novelist
sagely.

When two days had passed and their aunt had not yet appeared, her nieces
were not unnecessarily alarmed, for her attachment to her old home was
great, and it required no unusual degree of imagination to picture
her delighted lingering over the old things, her purposely prolonged
transaction of business details. But four days of unexplained absence
had its effect upon their own little menage; and when a week's visit had
been accomplished and their beseeching letters had elicited only vague
postal cards explaining nothing, but suggesting their presence at the
farm, they became convinced of the necessity for action on their part,
and went, more or less in the presumable spirit of the mountain in
search of the fractious Prophet.

Tired and cross after four hours' travel on an incredibly hot 1st of
April, they walked sternly up the board walk that led to the old-style
porch, to be greeted by their cousin, who sat in snowy shirtsleeves,
tilted back in his chair against the house, smoking his fat, dark cigar.

"Welcome home, girls--glad to see you!" he called cheerily. "Here they
are, Jule! Now don't be afraid, but come right out and see them!"

"Why, bless your heart, Lorando, I'm not afraid," a familiar voice
answered; and Aunt