What brought her back so soon ?' 'It was the singing,' returned Miss Locke, smiling.

'The street door was just ajar, and Kitty crept in and curled herself up on the mat.

It sounded so beautiful, you see; for Kitty and I only hear singing at church, and it is not often I can get there, with Phoebe wanting me; so it did us both good, you may be sure of that.' I could not but be pleased at this simple tribute of praise, but something else struck me more, the unobtrusive goodness and self-denial of Susan Locke.

What a life hers must be! I hinted at this as gently as I could.
'Ay, Phoebe has always been a care to me,' she sighed.

'She was never as strong and hearty as other girls, and she wanted her own way, and fretted when she could not get it.