was satisfied.  She had complimented Priscilla, and made her and the maids the customary spring present, and had returned to her evening post of observation at the parlor window just as Miss Fraley came in.  She was not in the mood for receiving guests, being a trifle tired, but Eunice Fraley was a mild little creature, with a gentle, deprecatory manner which had always appealed to Miss Prince’s more chivalrous nature.  Besides, she knew this to be a most true and affectionate friend, who had also the gift of appearing when everything was ready for her, as the bluebirds come, and the robins, in the early days of spring.

“I wish I could say that our house was all in order but one closet,” said the guest, in a more melancholy tone than usual.  “I believe we are more behind-hand than ever this year.  You know we have Susan’s children with us for a fortnight while she goes away for a rest, and they have been a good deal of care.  I think mother is getting tired of them now, though she was very eager to have a visit from them at first.  She said this morning that the little girl was worse than a kitten in a fit, and she did hope that Susan wouldn’t think it best to pass another week away.”

Miss Prince laughed a little, and so did Miss Fraley after a moment’s hesitation.  She seemed to be in a somewhat sentimental and introspective mood as she looked out of the window in the May twilight.

“I so often feel as if I were not accomplishing anything,” she said sadly.  “It came over me to-day that here I am, really an old woman, and I am just about where I first started,—­doing the same things over and over and no better than ever.  I haven’t the gift of style; anybody else might have done my work just as well, I am afraid; I am sure the world would have got along just as well without me.  Mother has been so active, and has reached such a great age, that perhaps it hasn’t been much advantage to me.  I have only learned to depend upon her instead of myself.  I begin to see that I should have amounted to a great deal more if I had had a home of my own.  I sometimes wish that I were as free to go and come as you are, Nancy.”

But Miss Prince’s thoughts were pleased to take a severely practical turn:  “I’m not in the least free,” she answered cheerfully.  “I believe you need something to strengthen you, Eunice.  I haven’t seen you so out of spirits for a great while.  Free! why I’m tied to this house as if I were the knocker on the front door; and I certainly have a great deal of care.  I put the utmost confidence in Priscilla, but those nieces of hers would be going wherever they chose, from garret to cellar, before I was ten miles away from Dunport.  I have let the cook go away for a week, and Phoebe and Priscilla are alone.  Phoebe is a good little creature; I only hope she won’t be married within six months, for I don’t know when I have liked a young girl so well.  Priscilla was anxious I should take that black-eyed daughter of her brother’s, and was quite hurt because I refused.”