m. Alice had almost lived with her, when
she, and Walter, and Arthur were children. Mrs. Weston knew that she could
not be in better hands than under the care of so faithful and respectable a
servant. Phillis had a large, old clothes' basket, where she kept the toys,
all the little plates and cups with which they played dinner-party, the
dolls without noses, and the trumpets that would not blow. Her children
were not allowed to touch them when the owners were not there, but they
took a conspicuous part in the play, being the waiters and ladies' maids
and coach-drivers of the little gentlemen and Alice. After Walter and
Arthur went away, Alice was still a great deal with Phillis, and she,
regarding her as Arthur's future wife, loved her for him as well as for
herself. Alice loved Phillis, too, and all her children, and they
considered her as a little above mortality. Bacchus used to insist, when
she was a child, that she never would live, she was _too good_. When,
during her severe illness, Phillis would go to her cabin to look around,
Bacchus would greet her with a very long face, and say, "I told you so. I
know'd Miss Alice would be took from us all." Since her recovery, he had
stopped prophesying about her.

"Aunt Phillis," said Alice, "you don't look very sick. I reckon you _will_
work when you ought not. Now I intend to watch you, and make you mind, so
that you will soon be well."

"I am a great deal better than I was, Miss Alice, but there's no knowing;
howsomever, I thank the Lord that he has spared me to see you once more. I
want to give Master time to talk to Miss Janet a little while, then I am
going in to see him and Miss Anna."

"Oh! come now," said Alice, "or he will be over here."

Phillis got up, and walked slowly to the house, Alice at her side, and
Bacchus stumping after her. As they went in, Alice tripped on first, and
opened the drawing-room door, making way for Phillis, who looked with a
happy expression of face towards her master.

"Is this you, Phillis?" said Mr. Weston, coming forward, and taking her
hand most kindly. Mrs. Weston and Ellen got up to shake hands with her,
too. "I am very glad to find you so much better than I expected," continued
Mr. Weston; "you are thin, but your countenance is good. I hope you will
get perfectly well, now that we are going to have summer weather."

"Thank you, sir," said Phillis. "I am a great deal better. Thank God, you
all look so well, Miss Anna and all.