"
Janice was folding her dresses into the small trunk. Aunt Mary
contemplated the green plaid waist with an air of mournful reflection.
"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled away," she murmured. "I
shall like to shake it out once in a while to remind me of things."
"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five minutes afterwards. "Here's
twenty-five dollars an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you like
with it."
"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her hands behind her and
shaking her head.
"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously; "you're well worth it."
"I don't like to--truly," said the girl.
"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.
So Janice took it and thanked her.
The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed wise to give the traveller a
quiet luncheon in her own room and rally her escort afterwards.
When she had eaten and drank she sighed again and thoughtfully folded her
napkin.
"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly out of the window. "I've
had a nice time, and I guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I
rather think my bein' here has given them a chance to go to a good many
places where they'd never have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure of
it."
Janice made no reply.
"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with something that sounded
suspiciously like a sob in her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one
consolation left an' that's--" again she paused.
Janice carried the tray away and the next minute they all burst in bearing
their parting gifts in their arms.
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