aid Grannie, shutting up her lips.
"Mr. Williams knows all about 'em. He says I can go to see you often;
'taint far from town. You won't really be very far from me at all.
But don't let us talk any more about it. When a woman comes to my time
o' life, ef she frets about herself she must be a mighty poor sort, and
that aint me."

Monday morning dawned, and Grannie had her way. Alison and David both
kissed her, and went out into the world to face their new duties. They
were not coming back any more to the little home. Grannie was alone.

"I haven't a minute to waste," she said to herself after they had gone,
bustling about as she spoke. "There's all the furniture to be sold
now. The auctioneer round the corner said he would look in arter the
chil'en were well out o' the way. Oh, I dare say I shall have heaps of
time to fret by and by, but I ain't agoin' to fret now; not I.
There'll be a nice little nest-egg out of the furniture, which Mr.
Williams can keep for Alison; and ef Alison gets on, why, 'twill do for
burying me when my time comes. I think a sight of having a good
funeral; the Lord knows I want to be buried decent, comin' of the breed
I do; but there, I've no time to think of funerals or anything else
now. I had to be masterful this week to 'em darlin's, but 'twas the
only thing to do. Lor' sakes! Suppose they'd begun fussing over me,
what would have become of us all?"

At this moment there came a knock at the door. Grannie knew who it
was. It was the agent who came weekly, Monday after Monday, to collect
the rent.

"Here's your rent, Mr. Johnson," said Grannie, "and I hope you'll get
another tenant soon. It was a right comfortable little flat, and we
all enjoyed ourselves here. We haven't a word to say agen our
landlord, Mr. Johnson."

"I am very sorry to lose you as a tenant, Mrs. Reed," said Mr. Johnson,
giving the bright-eyed little woman a puzzled glance. "If there is
anything in my power----"

"No, there aint! No, there aint!" said Grannie, nodding. "We has made
fresh arrangements in the fam'ly, and don't require the rooms any
longer. I'll have the furniture out by twelve o'clock to-day, sir, and
then the rooms will be washed out and tidied. A neighbor downstairs
has promised to do it. Will you please tell me where I shall leave the
key?"

"You may leave it with Mrs. Murray on the next flat," said Mr. Johnson.
"Well, I am sorry to lose you as a tenant, Mrs. Reed, and if ever