“Oh, did you?” exclaimed Evelyn, looking full of interest and delight, “please tell me the whole story, won’t you?  I should so like to hear it.”

Elsie willingly complied with the request, and it would be difficult to say which enjoyed the story most—­she who told it, or she who listened.

“I think you were brave, and kind and good, Aunt Elsie,” was Evelyn’s comment when the tale was told.

“I had a strong motive—­the saving of a life dearer to me than my own,” Elsie responded, half absently, as if her thoughts were busy with the past.

Both were silent for a little, Evelyn gazing with mournful eyes upon the lovely grounds and beautiful scenery about her home.

“Aunt Elsie,” she said at length, “do you know what is to be done with the house while mamma and I are away?  If it should be left long unoccupied it will fall into decay, and the grounds become a wilderness of weeds.”

“Your mother suggested having it rented just as it stands—­ready furnished,” replied Elsie; “but she feared—­as do we also—­that strangers might abuse the property; then, as I thought it over, it occurred to me that we might rent it ourselves for a summer residence; and when away from it, leave it in charge of Patrick and his wife, who have no children to do mischief, and who have lived so long in the family—­so your mother told us—­that their character for trustworthiness is well established.”

“Yes, indeed it is!” said Evelyn; “and that seems to me the best plan that could possibly be devised except that—­”

“Well dear, except what?” Elsie asked pleasantly, as the little girl paused without finishing her sentence.

“I fear it will be a great expense to you and Uncle,” was the half-hesitating reply, “and that you will get but little good of it, being so far away nearly all the year.”

“You are very thoughtful for one so young,” said Elsie in surprise.

“It is because papa talked so much with me about his affairs, and the uses of money, the difficulty of earning and keeping it, and the best ways of economising.  He said he wanted to teach me how to take care of myself, if ever I were left alone in the world.”

“That was wise and kind,” said Elsie; “and I think you must have paid good attention to his teachings.  But about the expense we shall incur in making the proposed arrangement:  there is a large family of us, and I do not doubt that we shall have help with both the use of the house and the paying of the rent.”

“And your mamma is very rich I’ve heard.” remarked Evelyn half inquiringly.

“Very rich and very generous,” returned her aunt.

“Are we to leave soon? and to go directly to your home?” asked Evelyn.

“It will be probably several weeks before your uncle can get everything arranged, and then he wants to spend some time sketching the scenery about Lake George and among the Adirondacks,” replied Elsie; “and we are to go with him.  Shall you like it?”