“Oh!” gasped Huldah, forgetting her shyness in her delight.

“I am going to call them ‘Brownie baskets,’ to distinguish them from any others; but the reason shall be our secret, shall it not?  Thank you very, very much little brownie, for your sweet gift,” and she stooped down and kissed Huldah on the forehead.

The child’s eyes filled with tears, glad, grateful tears.  “Oh, Miss Rose,” she exclaimed, “I am so happy, I don’t know what to do; it is all too lovely.  I am always afraid I shall wake up and find it a dream.”

“It is no dream, brownie; so long as you go on trying to make others happy you will find your own happiness is quite real.  Happiness lies in helping others and bringing sunshine into their lives.  You will have some disappointments.  It will seem as though some people do not want to be made happy, others would not admit it if they were.  Such people need a lot of patience shown them, but you must go on trying.  There is always something to be done for someone.  You must come indoors, though, or you will be taking cold, and we cannot afford to have that happen.”

Huldah followed Miss Rose along the path, hardly conscious that her feet touched the earth.  Her heart was throbbing with joy, her eyes were dancing.  Dick followed his mistress, his tail wagging contentedly, he knew by instinct why she was happy, and his senses told him that she had been very happy ever since they started for that beautiful walk that morning.

“I am going to begin the work to-morrow morning,” Huldah said, eagerly, to Mrs. Perry that evening, as they sat over their supper before the fire.  “I expect Miss Rose would like to have the baskets soon, and they will take a little while to make.”

Alas, though, when morning came, Huldah’s eagerness received a sharp check.  She had only the least little bit of raffia left, and to get more she would have to go into Belmouth.

“What a pity!” she cried, disappointedly; “it will take hours to walk there and back, and I meant to have done such a lot to-day!” She could have wept with vexation.  Belmouth was four miles off, and one of the hilliest four miles imaginable.  But it was not this that daunted her, it was the length of time that she would be kept from her work.  However, there was no good done by worrying over it, or by delaying, so, as soon as she had done her housework, and dinner was over and the dishes put away, she put on her new brown cloak, and with Dick for company she started.

They stepped out briskly, for the days were short now, and Mrs. Perry grew anxious if they were long away, and nervous if she were left alone when the light began to fade.  They stepped along so briskly that by half-past two they were in the town, and making their way to the shop where Miss Rose had bought the raffia before.  The purchase took a little time, for the shopman had not enough out, and had to send to the stock-room to get some.  But, now that