aste.
Now I think of it, I have some keys in my trunk."

"He won't like it," interposed Jane.

"In the responserble persition I have assumed," replied Mrs. Mumpson
with dignity, "I must consider not what he wants, but what is best for
him and what may be best for others."

Jane had too much curiosity herself to make further objection, and the
keys were brought. It was astonishing what a number of keys Mrs.
Mumpson possessed, and she was not long in finding those which would
open the ordinary locks thought by Holcroft to be ample protection.

"I was right," said Mrs. Mumpson complacently. "A musty odor exudes
from these closed receptercles. Men have no comprehension of the need
of such caretakers as I am."

Everything that had ever belonged to poor Mrs. Holcroft was pulled out,
taken to the window, and examined, Jane following, as usual, in the
wake of her mother and putting everything to the same tests which her
parent applied. Mrs. Holcroft had been a careful woman, and the extent
and substantial character of her wardrobe proved that her husband had
not been close in his allowances to her. Mrs. Mumpson's watery blue
eyes grew positively animated as she felt of and held up to the light
one thing after another. "Mrs. Holcroft was evidently unnaturally
large," she reflected aloud, "but then these things could be made over,
and much material be left to repair them, from time to time. The
dresses are of somber colors, becoming to a lady somewhat advanced in
years and of subdued taste."

By the time that the bed and all the chairs in the room were littered
with wearing apparel, Mrs. Mumpson said, "Jane, I desire you to bring
the rocking chair. So many thoughts are crowding upon me that I must
sit down and think."

Jane did as requested, but remarked, "The sun is gettin' low, and all
these things'll have to be put back just as they was or he'll be awful
mad."

"Yes, Jane," replied Mrs. Mumpson abstractedly and rocking gently, "you
can put them back. Your mind is not burdened like mine, and you
haven't offspring and the future to provide for," and, for a wonder,
she relapsed into silence. Possibly she possessed barely enough of
womanhood to feel that her present train of thought had better be kept
to herself. She gradually rocked faster and faster, thus indicating
that she was rapidly approaching a conclusion.

Meanwhile, Jane was endeavoring to put things back as they were before
and found it no easy task.