knew what I wanted better’n she did.  So yes’teddy when I went down to the station to see her off she handed me a bank book.  And—­Oh, say, I fergot!  She said there was a good-bye note inside.  I ain’t had time to look at it since.  I went right to the movies on the dead run to get there ’fore the first show begun, and it’s in my coat pocket.  Wait ’till I get it.  I spose it’s some of her old religion!  She’s always preaching at me.  It ain’t that she says so much as that she’s always meanin’ it underneath, everything, that gets my goat!  It’s sorta like having a piece of God round with you all the time watching you.  You kinda hate to be enjoyin’ yerself fer fear she won’t think yer doin’ it accordin’ to the Bible.”

Lizzie hurtled into the hall and brought back her coat, fumbling in the pocket.

“Yes, here ’tis ma!  Wanta see the figgers?  You never had a whole thousand dollars in the bank t’woncet yerself, did ya?”

Mrs. Brady put on her spectacles and reached for the book, while Lizzie’s mother got up and came behind her mother’s chair to look over at the magic figures.  Lizzie stooped for the little white note that had fluttered to her feet as she opened the book, but she had little interest to see what it said.  She was more intent upon the new bank book.

It was Grandmother Brady that discovered it: 

“Why, Lizzie!  It ain’t one thousand, it’s five thousand, the book says!  You don’t ’spose she’s made a mistake, do you?”

Lizzie seized the book and gazed, her jaw dropping open in amaze.  “Let me have it!” demanded Lizzie’s mother, reaching for the book.

“Where’s yer note, Lizzie, mebbe it’ll explain,” said the excited Grandmother.

Lizzie recovered the note which again had fluttered to the floor in the confusion and opening it began to read: 

“Dear Lizzie,” it read

“I’ve made it five thousand so you will have some over for furnishing your home, and if you still think you want the little bungalow out on the Pike you will find the deed at my lawyer’s, all made out in your name.  It’s my wedding gift to you, so you can go to work and buy your furniture at once, and not wait till Dan gets a raise.  And here’s wishing you a great deal of happiness,

“Your loving cousin,
ELIZABETH.”

“There!” said Grandmother Brady sitting back with satisfaction and holding her hands composedly, “Whadd’ I tell ya?”

“Mercy!” said Lizzie’s mother, “Let me see that note!  The idea of her giving all that money when she didn’t have to!”

But Lizzie’s face was a picture of joy.  For once she lost her hard little worldly screwed-up expression and was wreathed in smiles of genuine eagerness: 

“Oh Boy!” she exclaimed delightedly, dancing around the room, “Now we can have a victrola, an’ a player-piano, and Dan’ll get a Ford, one o’ those limousine-kind!  Won’t I be some swell?  What’ll the girls at the store think now?”