ad been for several previous
winters, because they kept better fires. Time heals our sorrows in
spite of us, and Madam Liberality was a very cheerful little body now,
and as busy as ever about her Christmas-boxes. Those for her nephews
and nieces were already despatched. "The boys" were married; Madam
Liberality was godmother to several children she had never seen; but
the Benjamin of his aunt's heart was Darling's only child--Tom--though
she had not seen even him.

Madam Liberality was still in the thick of her plans, which were
chiefly to benefit the old people and the well-behaved children of the
village. All the Christmas-boxes were to be "surprises," and Jemima
was in every secret but the one which most concerned her.

Madam Liberality had even some plans for her own benefit. George had
talked of coming home in the summer, and she began to think of saving
up for a new carpet for the drawing-room. Then the last time she went
to the town she saw some curtains of a most artistic pattern, and
particularly cheap. So much good taste for so little money was rare in
provincial shops. By and by she might do without something which would
balance the cost of the curtains. And she had another ambition--to
provide Jemima with black dresses and white muslin aprons for
afternoon wear in addition to her wages, that the outward aspect of
that good soul might be more in accordance than hitherto with her
intrinsic excellence.

She was pondering this when Jemima burst in in her cooking apron,
followed up the passage by the steam of Christmas cakes, and carrying
a letter.

"It's a big one, Miss," said she. "Perhaps it's a Christmas-box,
Miss." And beaming with geniality and kitchen warmth, Jemima returned
to her labours.

Madam Liberality made up her mind about the dresses and aprons; then
she opened her letter.

It announced the death of her cousin, her godmother's husband. It
announced also that, in spite of the closest search for a will, which
he was supposed to have made, this could not be found.

Possibly he had destroyed it, intending to make another. As it was he
had died intestate, and succession not being limited to heirs male,
and Madam Liberality being the eldest child of his nearest
relative--the old childish feeling of its being a dream came over her.

She pinched herself, however, to no purpose. There lay the letter, and
after a second reading Madam Liberality picked up the thread of the
narrative and arrived a