“Well, Christmas came, and we did a great business, for Mamma came and sent others, and our fancy things were as pretty and cheaper than those at the art stores, so they went well, and the Millers were cheered up, and I felt encouraged, and we took a fresh start after the holidays.  One of my gifts at New Year was my own glove-case,—­you remember the apple-blossom thing I began last autumn?  I put it in our window to fill up, and Mamma bought it, and gave it to me full of elegant gloves, with a sweet note, and Papa sent a check to ‘Miller, Warren & Co.’  I was so pleased and proud I could hardly help telling you all.  But the best joke was the day you girls came in and bought our goods, and I peeped at you through the crack of the door, being in the back room dying with laughter to see you look round, and praise our ’nice assortment of useful and pretty articles.’”

“That’s all very well, and we can bear to be laughed at if you succeeded, Miss.  But I don’t believe you did, for no Millers are there now.  Have you taken a palatial store on Boylston Street for this year, intending to run it alone?  We’ll all patronize it, and your name will look well on a sign,” said Maggie, wondering what the end of Ella’s experience had been.

“Ah!  I still have the best of it, for my romance finished up delightfully, as you shall hear.  We did well all winter, and no wonder.  What was needed was a little ‘boost’ in the right direction, and I could give it; so my Millers were much comforted, and we were good friends.  But in March Grammer died suddenly, and poor Almiry mourned as if she had been the sweetest mother in the world.  The old lady’s last wishes were to be ’laid out harnsome in a cap with a pale blue satin ribbin, white wasn’t becomin’, to hev at least three carriages to the funeral, and be sure a paper with her death in it was sent to N. Baxter, Westminster, Vermont.’

“I faithfully obeyed her commands, put on the ugly cap myself, gave a party of old ladies from the home a drive in the hacks, and carefully directed a marked paper to Nathan, hoping that he had proved ‘faithful and true.’  I didn’t expect he would, so was not surprised when no answer came.  But I was rather amazed when Almiry told me she didn’t care to keep on with the store now she was free.  She wanted to visit her friends a spell this spring, and in the fall would go back to her trade in some milliner’s store.

“I was sorry, for I really enjoyed my partnership.  It seemed a little bit ungrateful after all my trouble in getting her customers, but I didn’t say anything, and we sold out to the Widow Bates, who is a good soul with six children, and will profit by our efforts.

“Almiry bid me good-by with all the grim look gone out of her face, many thanks, and a hearty promise to write soon.  That was in April.  A week ago I got a short letter saying,—­

“’Dear friend,—­You will be pleased to hear that I am married to Mr. Baxter, and shall remain here.  He was away when the paper came with mother’s death, but as soon as he got home he wrote.  I couldn’t make up my mind till I got home and see him.  Now it’s all right. and I am very happy.  Many thanks for all you done for me and mother.  I shall never forget it My husband sends respects, and I remain Yours gratefully, Almira M. Baxter.’”