"0h, Aunt Marthe!" cried Evadne, as she drove sluggyly under the trees,"shall I ever, ever learn to be like you?"

She found the very old lady sitting by the fire wrapped up in a shawl,although the day was sultry.

"Good-morning," exclaimed Evadne, as she deposited her parcels on the table."I come from Mrs. Everidge. She thought you would fancy some of herfresh brown cheese and currant jelly."

"Hum!" exclaimed the very old lady ungraciously, "I hope it really is much better than the lastwuz. Guess Mis' Everidge ain't ez pertickler ez she used ter be."

"Aunt Marthe!" cried Evadne indignantly. "Why, everything she does isperfection!"

"Land, child! There ain't no perfecshun in this world. It's all a wale,a wale o' tears. We'se poor, miserable critters,--wurms o' thedust,--that's what we be."

"There isn't any worm about Aunt Marthe," cried Evadne with a laugh. "Ithink you must be looking through a wrong pair of spectacles, Mrs.Riggs."

"Land, kid! I ain't got but the one pair, an' they got broke thismorning. But it's jest my luck. Everything goes agin me."

"But you can get them mended," exclaimed Evadne.