xpected train at any one of
them, and to Albert, who did have a train on his mind and had ridden
swiftly up to his sweetheart's for the briefest of interviews, those
minutes seemed an hour. Yet Albert knew better, having his watch in
hand and waving it and pointing at it, the better to explain his hurry.
Once Emmy mustered courage in an access of desperation to rise to her
feet, but the look of horror on Miss Ann's features dropped her like a
club.

Albert's mind darted blindly from one conjecture of disaster to another.
At one minute he was ready to march in rashly before Miss Ann and demand
what was the matter; at another he was cold at the thought of blundering
in on a deathbed.

He gasped with relief when the door opened and Miss Keith came out,
smiling and calling: "Mrs. Conner! Mrs. Conner! hurry up that beef tea,
and make some strong coffee as soon as you can!"

Then he did venture to come into the room, essaying a general bow and
smile.

"I hope Aunty Darter is better!" he stammered. The children of the old
friends had always given them a brevet relationship. Mrs. Darter was
"Aunty Darter" to Albert, and Mrs. Glenn "Aunty Lida" to the Darter
girls.

"Mrs. Darter will be well to-morrow," said Miss Keith, quietly; "she is
going to take some coffee--"

"And some toast and plum jam," interrupted Mrs. Darter herself. "I know
Mrs. Conner has been making jam. The times I've hankered after jam these
last months! I'm going to eat everything I didn't dast to--"

"By degrees," said Miss Keith, "as the mental power grows stronger."

"Is that Albert?" said Mrs. Darter. "Albert, lift me up while I drink
that beef tea."

Albert and Emmy held her while Mrs. Conner fed her a cup of the tea.
They laughed hysterically, with tears in their eyes, as Mrs. Darter
sighed weakly. "Oh, but that's good!" while Mrs. Conner radiated
satisfaction and Miss Ann rocked to and fro, announcing that it was
"mirac'lus!" They did not comprehend what had happened; they could not
look into the future and a time when Mrs. Darter should throw herself
with energy into preparing for Emmy's marriage; they only dimly foresaw
her recovery and reconciliation with the common pleasures of life; but
it was enough for Emmy that her mother's black hour had passed, and for
Albert that he was close to Emmy, and that there was a vague omen of
happiness in the atmosphere.

Mrs. Darter took her tea. She went to sleep, as Miss Keith directed her;
and she p