not take it."

"But I want you to," asserted Ellen. "I'm givin' it to you to take care
of. It'll help to make life interestin'. Besides, who knows but you may be
tempted to break it open some night an' have a peep inside."

Craftily the old woman watched the girl.

"Or mebbe you'll tear it up," she mused. "Who knows? Then if I was to die,
you could pretend I hadn't made no will."

"Take it back. I shan't keep it," Lucy cried, moving toward the door.

"Afraid of yourself, eh?"

"No."

The monosyllable rang with scorn.

"Then prove it," sneered Ellen.

"Give it to me."

Smiling evilly, her aunt pushed the packet across the table. There was a
leer of triumph in the sharp-featured face.

"I 'magine that 'twas gettin' as mad as you are now that kep' the Websters
from ever buildin' up that wall," she called after her niece, as Lucy with
crimson cheeks fled up the stairs, the long white envelope in her hand.

CHAPTER XI

THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON

"I want you should go to the village to-day," announced Ellen, making her
appearance in Lucy's room on a hot August morning a few weeks later.
"Tony's got to get the scythe mended an' have Dolly shod. Don't it beat
all how somethin's always wearin' out? Long's he's goin', you might's well
drive along with him an' take the eggs an' corn I promised Elias Barnes.
There's some more errands at the store I want done, too."

"All right, Aunt Ellen."

But the woman loitered.

"If you don't want to hang 'round town till Tony gets ready to come back,
mebbe you could find somebody comin' this way who would give you a lift
home. It seems sort of a shame to stay there wastin' the time you could be
usin' here."

Lucy smiled at the characteristic remark.

"An' if you didn't happen on any one," went on Ellen, "likely you
wouldn't mind walkin'; 'twould get you home quicker."

"No, indeed. I always like a walk."

"I reckon 'twill be warm."

"I don't mind."

"That's good."

Ellen was always gracious when her plans went to her satisfaction.

"I want you to be ready to start right after breakfast," she added, as she
went out the door. "The earlier you get off the earlier you'll be back
again. I wish I could go myself an' dicker with Elias. I would if it
warn't that I have to tinker with that pesky cream separator."

"Is the cream separator out of order?"

"Yes," said Ellen wearily. "Trust that Tony to bust everythin' he
touches."

She closed Lucy's door wi