t money and friends? -- for she never had any
near and dear friends but father and me. Where can she live? -- "

Elizabeth jumped up and ran into the house to get away from
the inference. But when she had sat down in her chair the
inference stood before her.

"Bring her here! -- I cannot. I cannot. It would ruin my life."
Then, clear and fair, stood the words she had been reading --
'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you --'

"But there is no bed-room for her but this -- or else there
will be no sitting-room for either of us; -- and then we must
eat in the kitchen! --"

"_She_ has neither house, nor home, nor friend, nor money. What
wouldst thou, in her place? --"

Elizabeth put her face in her hands and almost groaned. She
took it up and looked out, but in all bright nature she could
find nothing which did not side against her. She got up and
walked the room; then she sat down and began to consider what
arrangements would be necessary, and what would be possible.
Then confessed to herself that it would not be _all_ bad to have
somebody to break her solitude, even anybody; then got over
another qualm of repugnance, and drew the table near her and
opened her desk.

Shahweetah, Sept. 26, 1817.

"Dear Rose,

"I am all alone, like you. Will you come here and let us do
the best we can together? I am at a place you don't like, but
I shall not stay here all the time, and I think you can bear
it with me for a while. I shall have things arranged so as to
make you as comfortable as you can be in such straitened
quarters, and expect you will come as soon as you can get a
good opportunity. Whether you come by boat or not, part of the
way, you will have to take the stage-coach from Pimpernel
here; and you must stop at the little village of Mountain
Spring, opposite Wut-a-qut-o. From there you can get here by
wagon or boat. I can't send for you, for I have neither one
nor the other.

"Yours truly, dear Rose,

"Elizabeth Haye."

With the letter in her hand, Elizabeth went forth to the
kitchen.

"Karen, is there any sort of a cabinet-maker at Mountain
Spring?"

"What's that?" said Karen.

"Is there any sort of a cabinet-maker at the village? -- a
cabinet-maker, -- somebody that makes tables and bedsteads, and
that sort of thing?"

"A furnitur' shop?" said Karen.

"Yes -- something of that kind. Is there such a thing in
Mountain Spring?"

Karen shook her head.

"They don't make nothin' at Mou