nishment.

She read Howard's note, and her surprise increased as she said, "I ought
not to keep them. Col. Crompton would not like it if he knew."

"Yes, you ought. Mrs. Amy does what she likes without consulting the
Colonel," Mrs. Biggs rejoined. "It would not do to send them back and
upset her, and isn't there a verse somewhere in the Bible about taking
what the gods give ye?"

Eloise knew what she meant, and replied, "'Take the good the gods
provide,' and they are certainly providing for me bountifully, but I
must at least write a note of thanks to Mrs. Amy for her thoughtfulness
and kindness."

To this Mrs. Biggs, who felt that she was in league with the young men,
also objected.

"Better not," she said. "Better wait till you can go and thank her in
person. I'll have Tim wheel you up some day. He'd like nothing better."

To this Eloise finally assented, and at once exchanged the hair-cloth
rocker for the sea chair, which she found a great improvement. When Tim
came from school he was told of the addition to the furniture in the
parlor by his mother, who added, "I smelt a rat at once, and thought it
a pity to spoil the young men's fun. Mrs. Amy don't know nothin' about
them chairs, no more than the man in the moon, and if Miss Smith had
much worldly sense she'd know they never came from Mrs. Amy. But she
hain't. She's nothin' but a child, and don't dream that both them young
men is jest bewitched over her. I don't b'lieve Mr. Howard means
earnest, but t'other one does. He's got the best face. I'd trust myself
with him anywhere."

Tim laughed at the idea that his mother could not trust herself with
anybody, but said nothing. He was Eloise's devoted slave, and offered to
wheel her miles if she cared to go; but she was satisfied with a few
turns up and down the road, which gave her fresh air and showed her
something of the country. The wheel chair was a great success, as well
as the sea chair, in which she was sitting when the young men came in
the afternoon to call, bringing some books which Mrs. Amy thought would
interest her, and a box of candy, which Jack presented in his own
person. He could not face her with Mrs. Amy as Howard could, and he felt
himself a great impostor as he received her thanks for Mrs. Amy, who, he
was sure, had entirely forgotten the girl.

No mention was ever made of her in Amy's presence or the Colonel's. He
was not yet over his wrath at the accident to his carriage and horse,
which