"Well,"  she  said,  "I'm  glad,  Betty,  if  you
aren't  actually  worn  out  mothering  my  black-
eyed  lamb.  Another  time  I'll  cope  with  all
three  of  yours,  if  you'll  let  me."  Then  she
stooped  and  kissed  Elizabeth  in  her  usual  half-
mocking  way.  "  Thank  you,  little  neighbour,"
she  murmured ;  "  you  make  me  ashamed  of  my-
self, whenever  I  see  you.  You  are  so  much  bet-
ter than  I."

When  Evelyn  Tripp  returned  that  afternoon
in  the  gloom  of  the  gathering  twilight  she
stood  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  glow  of  Eliza-
beth's cheerful  fireside,  slowly  drawing  off  her
gloves.  She  appeared  pallid  and  worn  in  the
half  light,  and  Elizabeth  caught  herself  won-
dering if  she  had  lunched.
