t was a basket that had seen hard service
in its day.

"See you here, dearie!" she said, holding them up to the gaze of her
guest. "Look you at all I've got for you. I didn't steal a bit of it--
I saw from your face you wouldn't like things got that way. Here's a
fine happing of fur to keep you warm; and I've got a full dozen of eggs
given me, and a beef-bone to make broth, and a poke o' meal: and they
promised me a cape at the green house, if I bring 'em some herbs they
want. We shall get along grandly, you'll see. I've picked up a fine
lot of chestnuts, too,--but them be for me; the other things be for you.
I'll set the bone on this minute; it's got a goodly bit o' meat on it."

"You are very good to me, Mother Haldane. But you must take your share
of the good things."

"Never a whit, my dearie! I got 'em all for you. There, now!"

She spread the fur coverlet over Ermine, wrapping her closely in it, and
stood a moment to enjoy the effect.

"Ain't that warm, now? Oh, I know where to go for good things! Trust
the Wise Woman for that! Can you sleep a while, my dear? Let me put
you on a fresh poultice, warm and comforting, and then you'll try, won't
you? I'll not make no more noise than Gib here, without somebody comes
in, and then it's as may be."

She made her poultice, and put it on, covered Ermine well, made up the
fire, and took her seat on the form, just outside the screen, while
Ermine tried to sleep. But sleep was coy, and would not visit the
girl's eyes. Her state of mind was strangely quiescent and acquiescent
in all that was done to her or for her. Perhaps extreme weakness had a
share in this; but she felt as if sorrow and mourning were as far from
her as was active, tumultuous joy. Calm thankfulness and satisfaction
with God's will seemed to be the prevailing tone of her mind. Neither
grief for the past nor anxiety for the future had any place in it. Her
soul was as a weaned child.

As Haldane sat by the fire, and Ermine lay quiet but fully awake on the
other side of the screen, a low tap came on the door.

"Enter!" said Haldane in a hollow voice, quite unlike the tone she used
to Ermine: for the Wise Woman was a ventriloquist, and could produce
terrifying effects thereby.

The visitor proved to be a young woman, who brought a badly-sprained
wrist for cure. She was treated with an herb poultice, over which the
old woman muttered an inaudible incantation; and having paid a bunch of