hurrying
along the entry that led to Martha's room and called two or three times
before its inhabitant could reach the door. Miss Harriet looked
unusually cheerful and excited, and she held something in her hand.
"Where are you, Martha?" she called again. "Come quick, I have
something to tell you!"

"Here I am, Miss Pyne," said Martha, who had only stopped to put her
precious box in the drawer, and to shut the geography.

"Who do you think is coming this very night at half-past six? We must
have everything as nice as we can; I must see Hannah at once. Do you
remember my cousin Helena who has lived abroad so long? Miss Helena
Vernon,--the Honorable Mrs. Dysart, she is now."

"Yes, I remember her," answered Martha, turning a little pale.

"I knew that she was in this country, and I had written to ask her to
come for a long visit," continued Miss Harriet, who did not often
explain things, even to Martha, though she was always conscientious
about the kind messages that were sent back by grateful guests. "She
telegraphs that she means to anticipate her visit by a few days and
come to me at once. The heat is beginning in town, I suppose. I
daresay, having been a foreigner so long, she does not mind traveling
on Sunday. Do you think Hannah will be prepared? We must have tea a
little later."

"Yes, Miss Harriet," said Martha. She wondered that she could speak as
usual, there was such a ringing in her ears. "I shall have time to
pick some fresh strawberries; Miss Helena is so fond of our
strawberries."

"Why, I had forgotten," said Miss Pyne, a little puzzled by something
quite unusual in Martha's face. "We must expect to find Mrs. Dysart a
good deal changed, Martha; it is a great many years since she was here;
I have not seen her since her wedding, and she has had a great deal of
trouble, poor girl. You had better open the parlor chamber, and make
it ready before you go down."

"It is all ready," said Martha. "I can carry some of those little
sweet-brier roses upstairs before she comes."

"Yes, you are always thoughtful," said Miss Pyne, with unwonted feeling.

Martha did not answer. She glanced at the telegram wistfully. She had
never really suspected before that Miss Pyne knew nothing of the love
that had been in her heart all these years; it was half a pain and half
a golden joy to keep such a secret; she could hardly bear this moment
of surprise.

Presently the news gave wings to her willing fe