faltered. "I 'ain't never lost anybody till poor--Abel." She broke
into gentle weeping, but Paulina Maria thrust a broom relentlessly
into her hand.

"Here," said she, "take this broom an' sweep, an' it might as well be
done to-night as any time. Of course you 'ain't got your spring
cleanin' done, none of it, Ann?"

"No," replied Mrs. Edwards; "I was goin' to begin next week."

"Well," said Paulina Maria, "if this house has got to be all cleaned,
an' cookin' done, in time for the funeral, somebody's got to work. I
s'pose you expect some out-of-town folks, Ann?"

"I dare say some 'll come from the West Corners. I thought I wouldn't
try to get word to Westbrook, it's so far; but mebbe I'd send to
Granby--there's some there that might come."

"Well," said Paulina Maria, "I shouldn't be surprised if as many as a
dozen came, an' supper 'll have to be got for 'em. What are you goin'
to do about black, Ann?"

"I thought mebbe I could borrow a black bonnet an' a veil. I guess my
black bombazine dress will do to wear."

"Mis' Whitby had a new one when her mother died, an' didn't use her
mother's old one. I don't believe but what you can borrow that," said
Paulina Maria. She was moving about the kitchen, doing this and that,
waiting for no commands or requests. Jerome and Elmira kept well back
out of her way, although she had not half the fierce impetus that