framework of a body under a shoulder-shawl
and thick petticoats. She got back to her chair again, and the guests
took off their bonnets in the bedroom, and returned discreet and sedate
in their black woolen dresses. The lonely kitchen was blest with
society at last, to its mistress's heart's content. They talked as
fast as possible about the weather, and how warm it had been walking up
the mountain, and how cold it had been a year ago, that day when Abby
Pendexter had been kept at home by a snowstorm and missed her visit.
"And I ain't seen you now, aunt, since the twenty-eighth of September,
but I 've thought of you a great deal, and looked forward to comin'
more'n usual," she ended, with an affectionate glance at the pleased
old face by the window.

"I 've been wantin' to see you, dear, and wonderin' how you was gettin'
on," said Aunt Cynthy kindly. "And I take it as a great attention to
have you come to-day, Mis' Hand," she added, turning again towards the
more distinguished guest. "We have to put one thing against another.
I should hate dreadfully to live anywhere except on a high hill farm,
'cordin' as I was born an' raised. But there ain't the chance to
neighbor that townfolks has, an' I do seem to have more lonely hours
than I used to when I was younger. I don't know but I shall soon be
gittin' too old to live alone." And she turned to her niece with an
expectant, lovely look, and Abby smiled back.

"I often wish I could run in an' see you every day, aunt," she
answered. "I have been sayin' so to Mrs. Hand."

"There, how anybody does relish company when they don't have but a
little of it!" exclaimed Aunt Cynthia. "I am all alone to-day; there
is going to be a shootin'-match somewhere the other side o' the
mountain, an' Johnny Foss, that does my chores, begged off to go when
he brought the milk unusual early this mornin'. Gener'lly he 's about
here all the fore part of the day; but he don't go off with the boys
very often, and I like to have him have a little sport; 't was New
Year's Day, anyway; he 's a good, stiddy boy for my wants."

"Why, I wish you Happy New Year, aunt!" said Abby, springing up with
unusual spirit. "Why, that's just what we come to say, and we like to
have forgot all about it!" She kissed her aunt, and stood a minute
holding her hand with a soft, affectionate touch. Mrs. Hand rose and
kissed Mrs. Dallett too, and it was a moment of ceremony and deep
feeling.

"I always like