e jam in a sparkling cut-glass tub. In its way,
though very different, it was as good as having tea with old Nurse at
the College. On this occasion it was unusually pleasant, because there
was so much to ask and hear about Keturah.

"Aren't you glad," said Nancy, when the whole story had been fully
explained, "that you've got Keturah instead of a new mandarin?"

"Nancy!" said Pennie, shocked at this bold question.

But Nancy was quite unabashed.

"You know, don't you," she said to Miss Unity, "that it was Pennie's
first plan to buy you a new one. The boys promised to help, but I
didn't. And then all sorts of things happened, and there was hardly any
money in the box. And then we saw Kettles. And then I made Pennie give
up the plan, and save for the boots and stockings. But we never thought
then that she'd ever have anything to do with you."

"It was very good of Pennie to wish to get me a new mandarin," said Miss
Unity, her eyes resting affectionately on her god-daughter.

"She wanted to ever so much," continued Nancy. "She wouldn't buy a book
she wanted at the fair, on purpose to save her money. But after all,
Kettles is much nicer to have, because you can do all sorts of things
with her, and the mandarin could only nod his head."

"If it had not been for Pennie," said Miss Unity, "I should never have
heard or known anything about Keturah. She has given me a new maid
instead of a new mandarin."

"But she's partly from Nancy too," said Pennie, "because you see she
made me like Kettles and give up the other."

"She's partly from Pennie, and partly from me, and partly from Dickie
too," said Nancy thoughtfully. "If Dickie hadn't had the measles Pennie
wouldn't have stopped here, and if she hadn't stopped here you would
never have heard of Kettles. Dickie _did_ put a penny into the box out
of her slug-money. She took it out again, but she wanted to help with
the mandarin. And after all she's helped to give you Kettles."

"Will she always stay here," asked Pennie, "after Betty's arm gets
well?"

"If Betty finds her useful I should like her to stay," said Miss Unity,
but as she spoke she felt that she should never have the courage to
suggest it.

The matter was, however, taken out of her hands by Nancy, who, as soon
as Betty appeared to take away the tea-things, put the question
point-blank:

"You'll like Kettles to stay, won't you, Betty? because what's the good
of making her look so nice if she