ake that?" asked the interested Sallie.

"He said if I thought he was an invalid any longer I had another guess
coming. Says he'll be up and into his clothes by to-morrow, and is
going to _take care of me_. Says I'm pale and need a highball,
whatever that is."

"Never heard of it," said Sallie.

"He's a good young man, if he did get pitched overboard," went on Mrs.
Stoddard. "But he doesn't need me any more, and I guess I'll be going
along home."

"I don't know but what the rest of us need you," complained Sallie.
"It's more of a Sunday-school picnic here than you'd think, what with a
New York press agent and a princess, to say nothing of that Mr. Hand."

"He certainly knows how to manage a sick man," said Susan.

"He don't talk like a Christian," said Sallie.

Mrs. Stoddard made her way to Agatha in the cool chamber at the head of
the stairs. Agatha, in a dressing-sack, with her hair down, called her
in and sent Lizzie away.

"You're not going, are you, Mrs. Stoddard?" She took Susan's two hands
and held them lovingly against her cheek. "It won't seem right here,
without you."

"You've done your duty, Agatha, and I've done mine, as I saw it. I'm
not needed here any more, but I'll send Angie over to help Sallie with
the work, after I get the crab-apples picked."

Agatha held Mrs. Stoddard's hands closely. "Ah, you have been good to
us!"

"There is none good but One," quoted Mrs. Stoddard; nevertheless her
eyes were moist with feeling. "You'll stay on in the old red house?"

"I don't know; probably not for long. But I almost wish I could."

"I've learned a sight by you, Agatha. I want you to know that," said
Susan, struggling with her reticence and her impulse toward confession.

"Oh, don't say that to me, Mrs. Stoddard. I can only remember how good
you've been to us all."

But Susan would not be denied. "I thought you were proud and vain
and--and worldly, Agatha. And I treated you harsh, I know."

"No, no. Whatever you thought, it's all past now, and you are my
friend. You'll help me to take care of this dear old place--yes?"

"The Lord will establish the work of your hands, my child!" She
suddenly turned with one of her practical ideas. "I wouldn't let that
new city man in to see Mr. Hambleton just yet, if I were you."

"Is Mr. Straker trying to get in to see Mr. Hambleton?"

"Knocked at the door twice this morning, and I told him he couldn't
come in. 'Why not?' said he. 'Dang