restless. She wore a straw bonnet with white ribbons, and a long, red,
India scarf, which, on the front of her dress, reached to her feet. In
her hand she carried a little key.

"Gertrude," she said, "are you very sure you had better not go to
church?"

Gertrude looked at her a moment, plucked a small sprig from a
lilac-bush, smelled it and threw it away. "I am not very sure of
anything!" she answered.

The other young lady looked straight past her, at the distant pond,
which lay shining between the long banks of fir-trees. Then she said in
a very soft voice, "This is the key of the dining-room closet. I think
you had better have it, if any one should want anything."

"Who is there to want anything?" Gertrude demanded. "I shall be all
alone in the house."

"Some one may come," said her companion.

"Do you mean Mr. Brand?"

"Yes, Gertrude. He may like a piece of cake."

"I don't like men that are always eating cake!" Gertrude declared,
giving a pull at the lilac-bush.

Her companion glanced at her, and then looked down on the ground. "I
think father expected you would come to church," she said. "What shall I