Aunt Judith, sitting by the window saw her coming, and hastened to the door.
"I've been watching a half hour to see you push open the gate, and come in," she said.
"Oh, Aunt Judith! I'm not late," Rose said, "for look! I said I'd come over here at nine, and it's just nine by your clock."
"Dear child, you are very prompt, and the only reason that I sat watching is because I wanted to see you the moment you came in sight. Now take off your things," she said, "and then we'll sit down, and talk over the plans for our party."
Rose was delighted. What little girl wouldn't be?
"First of all, dear, I had a great surprise this morning. A very great surprise, and your Uncle John Atherton gave it to me."
"Oh, Uncle John is always doing something nice, for somebody!" cried
Rose.
"I never knew how good, how kind he could be," Aunt Judith said, brushing away a happy tear. "He came here one evening, and said he'd come to cheer me, and he certainly succeeded. We talked a little while, and in his pleasant way he questioned me, trying to learn if I was feeling prosperous. I didn't like to tell him, but he made me, and Rose, my cellar is stocked with all the wood and coal that I could use this Winter. There are winter vegetables, apples, two big hams, a barrel of flour,—Rose! I never felt so rich in all my life! Think of it! Winter coming, and my cellar full!"
"Oh, Aunt Judith! Do you wonder that I love him?"
"Who could help it?" was the eager question, "And that's not all, for with the idea that he hadn't done enough, this morning when I opened my back door a neat looking little maid stood there.