Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.

“Is this a trap?” she asked reproachfully.

Jack laughed.

“No,” he said “it’s a counter-mine.”

“Your aunt wants you at once,” said Janice, putting her hands into her pockets and looking out of the window.

“I fly to obey,” he said obediently, and went at once to his elderly relative.

“Jack,” she said, the instant he opened the door, “I’ve had a little talk with Granite.  She don’ want to marry you, but she looks to me like she really didn’t know her own mind.  I’ve said all I can say an’ I’m too tired holdin’ the ear-trumpet to say any more.  I think the best thing you can do is to take her out for a walk an’ explain things thoroughly.  It’s no good our talkin’ to her together; and, anyway, I’ve always been a great believer in ‘Two’s company—­three’s none.’  That was really the big reason why I’d never let Lucinda keep a cat.  You take her and go to walk and I guess everything’ll come out all right.  It ought to.  My heavens alive!”

Jack took the maid and they went out to walk.  When they were beyond earshot the first thing that they did was to laugh long and loud.

“Of all my many and varied adventures!” cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took the opportunity to kiss her again—­under no protest this time.

“We shall have to be married very soon, now, you know,” he said gayly.  “Aunt Mary won’t be able to wait.”

“Oh, as to that—­we’ll see,” said Mrs. Rosscott, and laughed afresh.  “But there is one thing that must be done at once.”

“What’s that?” Jack asked.

“We must tell Aunt Mary who I am.”

“Oh, to be sure,” said the young man.

“I hope she won’t take it in any way but the right way!” the widow said thoughtfully.

“My dearest, in what other way could she take it?  I think she has proved her opinion of you pretty sincerely.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, “I certainly have cause to feel that she loves me for myself alone.”

When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary’s room, and the first glance through the old lady’s eye-glasses told her that her wishes had all been fulfilled.  She sat up in bed, took a hand of each into her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy as nearly caused all three to weep together.

“Well, I am so glad,” was all she said for the first few seconds, and nobody doubted her words forever after.

Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to the bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one of her hands while Jack held the other.

“I’m so glad you’re to have the runnin’ of Jack,” the old lady declared sincerely.  “All I ask of you is to be patient with him.  I always was.  That is, most always.”

“Dear Aunt Mary,” said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping down on her knees beside the bed, “you are so good to me that you encourage me to tell you my secret.  It isn’t long, and it isn’t bad, but I have a confession to make.”