Lois stood up shrinkingly as they approached, the door behind her opened, and she heard her mother’s voice.

“Good-afternoon,” said Mrs. Field, with rigid ceremony, her mouth widened in a smile.

“Good-afternoon, Esther,” returned Mrs. Maxwell.  “I’ve been to the funeral, an’ I thought I’d jest run in a minute on my way home.  I wanted to ask you an’ your niece to come over an’ take tea to-morrow.  Flora, she’d come, but she didn’t get out to the funeral.  This is my nephew, Francis Arms, my sister’s son.  I s’pose you remember him when he was a little boy.”

Mrs. Field bowed primly to the young man.  The old lady was eying Lois.  “I s’pose this is your niece, Esther?  I heard she’d come,” she said, with sharp graciousness.

“This is Miss Lois Field; I’ll make you acquainted, Mis’ Maxwell,” replied Mrs. Field.

Mrs. Maxwell reached out her hand, and Lois took it trembling; her little girlish figure drooped before them all.

“She don’t look much like you, Esther.  I s’pose she takes after her mother,” said Mrs. Maxwell.

“I think she rather favors her father’s folks,” said Mrs. Field.

“I heard she wa’n’t very well, but seems to me she looks pretty smart.”

“She ain’t been well at all,” returned Mrs. Field, in a quick, resentful manner.

“Well, I guess she’ll pick up here; Elliot’s a real healthy place.  She must come over and see us real often.  This is my nephew, Francis Arms, Lois.  I shall have to get him to beau you around and show you the sights.”

Lois glanced timidly up at the young man, and returned his bow slightly.

“Won’t you walk in?” said Mrs. Field.

Lois went into the house with the party; the old lady still held her hand in her black-mitted one.

“I want you and my nephew to get acquainted,” she whispered; “he’s a real nice young man.  I’m goin’ to have you an’ your aunt come over an’ take tea to-morrow.”

They all seated themselves in the south front room.  Lois sat beside Mrs. Maxwell on the high black sofa; her feet swung clear from the floor.  The young man, who was opposite, beside the chimney, glanced now and then kindly across at her.

“Francis didn’t have to go to the bank this afternoon,” said Mrs. Maxwell.  “I don’t know as I told you, Esther, but he’s cashier in the bank; he’s got a real good place.  Francis ain’t never had anything but a common-school education, but he’s always been real smart an’ steady.  Lawyer Totten’s son, that’s been through college, wanted the place, but they gave it to Francis.  Mr. Perry, whose mother was buried this afternoon, is president of the bank, an’ that’s why it’s shut up.  Francis felt as if he’d ought to go to the funeral, an’ I told him he’d better come in here with me.  I suppose you remember Francis when he was a little boy, Esther?”

“No, I guess I don’t.”

“Why, I should think you’d be likely to.  He lived with me when you was here.  He came right after his father died, an’ that was before you came here.  He was quite a big boy.  I should think you’d remember him.  You sure you don’t, Esther?”