Pauline never attempted after that to elevate the moral tone of her
step-brothers.

Her father came in at supper-time with a letter. He handed it over to
her as she sat beside him.

'It's from your uncle Robert, my dear, in Boston. His folks think it's
time they got to know their cousin.'

'Well, I hope they're not comin' trailin' down here with their city
airs,' said Mrs Harding shortly. 'I've got enough people under my feet
as it is.'

'You needn't worry, mother, I don't think Sleepy Hollow would suit
Robert's family--they're pretty lively, I take it, and up with the
times. They'd find us small potatoes not worth the hoeing.' He sighed as
he spoke. Did he remember how Pauline's mother had drooped and died from
this very dulness? Was he glad to have her child escape?

'Well, I don't see how there's any other way for them to get
acquainted,' retorted his wife. 'Pawliney can't be spared to go
trapesing up to Boston. Her head's as full of nonsense now as an egg is
of meat, an' she wouldn't know a broom from a clothes-wringer after
she'd been philandering round a couple of months with people that are
never satisfied unless they're peeking into something they can't
understand.'

'But I guess we'll have to spare Pauline,' said Mr Harding. 'She has
been a good girl, and she deserves a holiday.' He patted Pauline's hand
kindly.

'Oh, of course!' sniffed Mrs Harding in high dudgeon; 'some folks must
always have what they cry for. I can be kep' awake nights with the baby,
and work like a slave in the day time, but that doesn't signify as long
as Pawliney gets to her grand relations.'

'Well, well, wife,' said Mr Harding soothingly, 'things won't be as bad
as you think for. You can get Martha Spriggs to help with the chores,
and the children will soon be older. Young folks must have a turn, you
know, and I shall write to Robert to-night and tell him Pawliney will be
along shortly--that is if you'd like to go, my dear?'

Pauline turned on him a face so radiant that he was satisfied, and the
rest of the meal was taken in silence. Mrs Harding knew when her husband
made up his mind about a thing she could not change him, so she said no
more, but Pauline felt she was very angry.

As for herself, she seemed to walk on air. At last, after all these
years, something had happened! She stepped about the dim kitchen
exultantly. Could this be the same girl who had found life intolerable
only two hours before? Now the Aladdin