need it."

"It is best to be prepared for emergencies, Herbert."

"If I am going to-morrow morning, I must split up enough wood to last
you while I am gone."

"I am afraid you will tire yourself. I think I can get along with what
wood there is already split."

"Oh, don't be afraid for me. You'll see I'll come back as fresh as
when I set out. I expect to have a stunning appetite, though."

"I'll try to cook up enough for you," said his mother, smiling.

Herbert went out into the wood shed, and went to work with great
energy at the wood pile. In the course of an hour he had sawed and
split several large baskets full, which he brought in and piled up
behind the kitchen stove.

Mrs. Carter could not be expected to feel very deep grief for the
death of her uncle. It was now more than six years since they had met.
He was a selfish man, wholly wrapped up in the pursuit of wealth. Had
he possessed benevolent instincts, he would have offered to do
something out of his abundance for his niece, who he knew found it
very hard to make both ends meet. But he was a man who was very much
averse to parting with his money while he lived. He lived on a tenth
of his income, and saved up the rest, though for what end he could not
well have told. Since the death of Mr. Carter, whose funeral he had
not taken the trouble to attend, though invited, he had not even