“And where on earth’s the old man?  I can’t think how you found them.  Seems like a month since I seen him, but then I have more attachment and affection than most folks, or I wouldn’t a been so flustered.  I hope he’s acted with some sense, so as I won’t have to be mortified.”

Endeavoring to impress her guest favorably, Mrs. Gray, while talking, was energetically moving about the room, making some pretense toward bringing order out of confusion.

“That grease spot down there on the floor by the stove does really worry me a heap, and I’d really ought to—­”

At this Rosa cast a glance at the whip still reposing above the door, and tightened her clasp upon Esther’s hand.

“Father’s awful childish, and I have to treat him jest like a child, too, or I couldn’t git on with him no how.  I’ve kep’ him now, well, let me see:  it’s a-goin’ on six years since Tom got killed, and I’ve been a-supportin’ him ever since, and no tellin’ how much longer he’ll live.  If it wuzn’t fer my kind heart, I’d tell him he’d have to leave.  I’ve thought of it some lately, but then s’pose I never will.  Then when Mis’ Browning died, of course she wanted me to raise Rosa.  It’s a good thing she did die fer now Rosa’ll learn to do somethin’ more’n jest to be kissed and cried over.  I used to git that provoked at her ma fer actin’ so silly.  I didn’t say she could stay here only till spring.  Of course she come in real handy like when father didn’t mind and I twisted my ankle, but then it’s sech a bother to raise a child.  When she ain’t no more use to me, I don’t know how it’ll be then.”

During this recital, Esther’s face was a study.  She had visited much among the poor with her father, but never before had she come into contact with quite so unusual a character as Mrs. Gray.  Finding that her only opportunity to state her errand was to interrupt the loquacious speaker, she determined to wait no longer.

“Mrs. Gray, I have come to tell you that you will never again be troubled by grandpa or Rosa.  Grandpa is in my home, and the physician says that he can live but a few hours longer.  He has had a raging fever, but that has left now; he is entirely rational and wishes to see you before the Master calls.

“My carriage is waiting.  There is no time to lose.  Put on your wraps and come immediately.”

So surprised was Mrs. Gray that for the instant an almost unprecedented thing occurred:  she could think of nothing to say.  But endeavoring to gain her normal poise, she turned upon Rosa.

“Well, you heard what the lady said!  Father, the dear old soul, of course he wants to see me before he dies, after all I’ve done fer him; but how lonely it’ll be without him!  Seems like I can see him a-settin’ over there in his chair now, a-lookin’ out of the winder, like he did ’most all day sometimes.”

At this appropriate juncture, she made a fruitless effort to shed a few tears, but, to be charitable, the deepest sorrow cannot find expression in tears.