s Aunt Lavinny with him, I bet!"

And out the boy rushed again, to greet the new-comers.

Lill, who was once more washing dishes at the table, stepped down from
her stool, and ran out too, drying her fingers on her apron by the way.
Five-year-old Chokie got up from his holes in the earth by the doorstep,
and stood with dangling hands and sprawling fingers, grinning,
dirty-faced.

Vinnie, springing to the ground with Jack's help, at the side door
caught Lill in her arms, and gave her an ardent kiss.

"I have heard of you!" she said; for she had recognized the bright,
wistful face.

"Dear auntie!" said the child, with tears and smiles of joy, "I'm so
glad you've come!"

"Here is Link--my friend Link," said Jack. "Don't overlook him."

"I've heard a good deal about you too, Link!" said Vinnie, embracing him
also, but not quite so impulsively.

"Ye needn't mind kissing me!" said Link, bashfully turning his face.
"And as for him,"--as she passed on to the five-year-old,--"that's
Chokie; he's a reg'lar prairie gopher for digging holes; you won't find
a spot on him big as a sixpence clean enough to kiss, I bet ye two
million dollars!"

[Illustration: LINK DOESN'T CARE TO BE KISSED.]

Vinnie did not accept the wager, convinced, probably, that she would
lose it if she did. As she bent over the child, however, the report of a
kiss was heard,--a sort of shot in the air, not designed to come very
near the mark.

"I'm didding a well," said Chokie, in a solemn voice, "so the boys won't
have to go to the spring for water."

Mrs. Betterson tottered to the door, convulsively wrapping her red shawl
about her.

"Lavinia! Is it sister Lavinia?"

At sight of her, so pale and feeble, Vinnie was much affected. She could
hardly speak; but, supporting the emaciated form in her strong,
embracing arms, she led her back into the house.

"You are so good to come!" said Mrs. Betterson, weeping, as she sank in
her chair. "I am worse than when I wrote to you; and the baby is no
better; and Cecie--poor Cecie! though she can sit up but little, she
does more than any of us for the sick little thing."

Vinnie turned to the lounge, where Cecie, with the baby in her arms, lay
smiling with bright, moist eyes upon the new-comer. She bent over and
kissed them both; and, at sight of the puny infant,--so pitiful a
contrast to Mrs. Lanman's fair and healthy child,--she felt her heart
contract with grief and her eyes fill.

Then, as she turn