.

"Martin told us your aunt was sick, so I came over to see what I could
do," said the visitor softly. "I reckon you're all up in a heap. Sickness
makes a sight of trouble. I know what it is 'cause I've had it. Let me
take right hold and put the kitchen to rights for you."

The words were hearty with sincerity, and the woman's intention of
rendering neighborly assistance genuine, for she promptly produced a large
pinafore from under her arm and proceeded to put it on.

"You're just as good as you can be," Lucy exclaimed. "But indeed I
couldn't think of letting you do my work, especially on such a hot day as
this."

"Why not? Didn't I just tell you I came to help? If you wasn't to let me
lend a hand when you were in a tight place, I'd feel it warn't kind of
you," protested Jane, aggrieved. "Fetch the broom, an' I'll go straight to
sweepin' up. My, but you have a fine big kitchen here, haven't you?"

As she rolled up her sleeves she glanced about.

"It's a monstrous house though," she went on a minute later. "You'll never
be able to do all there'll be to do now, unless you have help. Let alone
the work, you never can manage to lift your aunt by yourself. I reckon
you'll have to send for Melviny Grey."

"And who, pray, is she?"

"Melviny? Ain't you never heard of Melviny?"

Jane regarded Lucy with astonishment.

"No."

"Oh, well, that's because you warn't born and raised here," she explained.
"Why, Melviny's one of the institutions of Sefton Falls. Nothin' goes on
in the way of tribulation without Melviny bein' to it."

"Oh, I see. She's a nurse."

"No, you couldn't really call her that," replied Jane thoughtfully. "An'
still I don't know but you might as well tag her that way as any. 'Twould
be hard to tell just what Melviny is. She ain't only a nurse, 'cause
she's a dressmaker; an' she ain't exactly a dressmaker, 'cause she makes
bonnets; besides that she cleans house for folks, puts up pickles, and
tends all the new babies. Melviny's just a sort of present help in time of
trouble."

Lucy smiled.

"I believe, too, she ain't busy just now--not more'n ordinarily busy, I
mean," Jane hastened to add quickly. "As I remember it, the Bartons'
baby's just come, an' the Wheeler one ain't due yet; so I guess Melviny's
yours for the askin'. An' if you can get her, you'll have a whole team."

"I don't know whether Aunt Ellen----" began Lucy uneasily, but Jane
interrupted her:

"Oh, it ain't to be expected your