"Why, she ain't a mite of trouble, but just a pleasure, Hettie Ann,"
answered Mother with mild remonstrance in her tone. "I expected to
have a good bit of worry with her, having no cook in my kitchen,
'count of waiting for Cindy to get well and come back to me and
nobody easy to pick up to do the work, but she hadn't been here a
week before she was reaching out and learning house jobs. I think it
takes her mind offen her troubles and I can't say her no if it do
help her, not that I want to, for she's a real comfort."

"Well, if it was me I couldn't take no comfort in a play-acting
girl. I'd feel like locking up what teaspoons I had and a-counting
over everything in my house every day. It's just like you, Mis'
Mayberry, to take her in. And I can't sense the why of you're being
so close-mouthed about her. Near neighbors oughter know all about
one another's doings and not have to ask, I say." Mrs. Peavey
sniffed and assumed an air of injured patience.

"Why, Hettie Ann," Mother hastened to answer, "you know as I always
did hold that the give and take of advice from friends is the
greatest comfort in the world, though at times most confusing, and I
thought I told you all about Elinory."

"Well, you didn't. Muster been Bettie Pratt or Mis' Pike you was a-
talking to when you thought it was me," answered her friend with the
injured note in her voice becoming with every word more noticeable.
"Are she rich or poor? Do you know that much?"

"Well now, come to think of it, I don't," answered Mother promptly.
"Connecting up folks and they money always looks like sticking a