“You have taken me here a stranger in your house. I have been here four weeks and you have never given me your bill——”
“I was waiting till you got something to do, honey,” interrupted the landlady.
“And—this is what I wanted to ask you: Suppose I should be here for eight weeks or for twelve weeks, without paying you?”
“Well, honey, it wouldn’t so much matter as you might think; because, you see, dear, you don’t occupy a room. You only sleep on a little bed in my room; so really your being here don’t make no odds. I have six rooms as I let to boarders, and that is what supports the house. They are all let, and you don’t take up none of them, so your being in the house don’t make no odds at all, let alone it being a comfort to have you.”
“Dear Mrs. Downie——” began Lilith, with the tears running over her eyes; but her voice faltered and her words died in silence.
“Look here, honey, it is borne in on me as if you would just stop calling me Mrs. Downie—not but what I am fond of the name, and proud of it for poor, dear Will’s sake—but if you would just stop ceremonials and call me Aunt Sophie, like the rest of the children do, and would come closer up to me, in your heart, like you would feel more at home with me, and would be more better satisfied, and wouldn’t have no doubts nor troubles about board and such. Couldn’t you now, honey?”
Lilith left her chair and came and sat down in the good woman’s lap, dropped her head upon her bosom, and put her arms around her neck.
“That’s right, dearie. Now remember, I am your Aunt Sophie,” said Mrs. Downie, folding the young creature in a close embrace.
“I never knew a mother or a sister or an aunt. It comforts me to be allowed to call you aunt.”
“That is right, dear. Now I’m going to propose another thing; that is, for you to go to market with me every morning, when you feel like it. It will amuse you, and take your thoughts offen troubles it is unprofitable to dwell on. And then, dearie, sometimes you might go to meeting with me in week evenings. We often have a real good, warm time at our meetings,” said the good woman, with a cheerful glow in her gentle countenance.