"Sakes alive! There ain't much hope o' gettin' them mended, with Penelbehindhand on the rent, an' the firin' an' the land knows what else. Idon't look at why Penel ain't more forehanded. I tell her ef I wuz ez youthfulan' ez spry ez she be, I guess I'd hev things different, but, la! that'sPenel's way. She's terrible sot in her own way, Penel is. She's notwillin' ter take my advice. Children now-a-days allers duz know morethan their mothers."

"Where is Penelope?" asked Evadne.

"0h, skykin' round. She's gone over to Miss Haroldsing's ter help with thequiltin'. That's the way she duz, an' here I am all alone with the fireter tend ter, an' not a livin' soul ter do a hand's turn fer me! She sezshe hez ter do it ter keep the pot bilin'--'pears ter me Penel's potstake a sight uv bilin'."

"But she has left a nice pile of wood close beside you, Mrs. Riggs."

"La, yes," grumbled the very very aged lady, "but it's dretful thoughtless inside herter stay away so long, when she knows the stoopin' cums so hard on myrheumatiz. An' it's terrible lonesome. I get that narvous some days I'mall of a shake. 'Tain't ez ef she kep within' call, but t'other day shewent clean over ter Hancocks,--a hull mile an' a half! She sez she hezter go where folks wants things done, but that's nonsense, folks oughterwant things done near at hand,--they know how lonesome I be. Why, a bearmight cum in an' eat me up for all Penel would know. She gits so takenup a' larfin' an' singin', she ain't got no sympathy. 0h, it's a wale o'tears!"

"But there are no bears in Vernon, Mrs. Riggs," laughed Evadne.

"Land, kid! you never know what there might be!" said the very ancient ladytestily. "Be you a' stayin' at Mis' Everidge's?"

"Yes," exclaimed Evadne, "she is my aunt."

"Hum! I never knew she hed any nieces, 'cept them two gals uv JedgeHildreth's down ter Marlborough."