“I know it; but this is a very serious request—­in fact, I am afraid to make it.”

“Out with it.  I can but say no any way.”

Miss Goldthwaite leaned on her parasol, and looked at Aunt Hepsy, smiling, and blushing slightly too.

“Perhaps you know I’m going to be married soon, Miss Hepsy?”

“I hear the folks sayin’ so; but I paid no heed, guessin’ ye’d come an’ tell us afore it took place.  Is’t to be immediately?”

“At Christmas.  But I’m going home to New York in three weeks.”

“To get ready,” nodded Miss Hepsy.  “Well?”

“Can’t you guess what I want, Miss Hepsy?”

Miss Hepsy stood a moment in wondering silence, and then said very slowly, “I guess it’ll be Lucy ye want.”

“Yes; I want her to go home with me, and remain till after my marriage.  Frank will bring her back when he comes.  Now it’s out.  Order me off the premises now, Miss Hepsy; I know you feel like it.”

“This is September,” said Aunt Hepsy very slowly; “October, November, December, January—­perhaps nigh half a year.  Well, Miss Goldthwaite, excuse me sayin’ it, but the Lord’ll need to help your husband; he’ll not be able to help hisself, that’s certain.  Ye’d move the Peak, as I’ve said afore.”

“Am I to take that as your permission, Miss Hepsy?”

“Hev ye spoke to Lucy?”

“Not yet; you had to be asked first.  If you had said no, I should not have thought of mentioning it to Lucy at all.”

“If Lucy wants to go, I’m willin’; but it’ll be a queer house without her.”

“Thank you, Miss Hepsy,” said Carrie, and bent forward and kissed her.  “I think you will not regret it.  It will soon pass, and will do Lucy a world of good.  She is growing up, you know, and wants to see something.”

“P’raps you’re right,” said Aunt Hepsy.  “Yes, go in now, Miss Goldthwaite; I want to think a bit.”

Carrie went in, and kneeling down on the hearth beside Lucy, said abruptly, “I am going to be married at Christmas, Lucy, and want you for my bridesmaid.  I am going home to New York in three weeks, and your aunt says I may take you with me.  Will you come?”

Lucy’s face flushed with pleasure, but she said quickly,—­

“You are very kind, Carrie.  I should like it dearly.  But would it be right to leave my uncle and aunt?”

“If they say you may, Lucy.  I have thought it well over before I mentioned it at all; and I’m sure you would enjoy yourself.”

“I know that.  May I have a day or two to think of it, Carrie?”

“As many as you like, so that you only come, dear.  Now, I’m going off; I haven’t a minute to spare.—­By-the-by, Alice and Minnie will likely be at papa’s, too, all December, so that is another inducement.  Goodbye.”  She stooped and kissed Lucy, and ran out of the house.

Pretty soon Aunt Hepsy came in, looking very grave and sad.  She took up her knitting, and for a bit neither spoke.