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"I'm glad you brought her," said Tilly, holding out the shadowy hand that she called so strong, wondering at the tears in Anne's eyes. "I seldom see girls of my own age, and I should think you were quite as old as I."

"O, no," Anne said, quickly, "I am older than you; I am twelve."

"But I am fourteen, almost fifteen," responded Tilly; why, I seem so large and clumsy to myself, sometimes I almost wish I might stop growing, I'm such a weight for mother."

"Not much more than a baby, miss, light as a feather," interrupted the good woman; "she was never no trouble, never, since that I can recollect."

"Mother thinks so," said Tilly, with an angelic smile; "but I know. She has so much patience with me, you can't begin to think."

"Well, miss, and who wouldn't? to see her so patient with herself, and she in pain more than half the night through. She's the dearest child that ever a mother had."

"Does she like nice things, that's the question?" cried Uncle Ralph, heartily, taking note of Anne's quivering lip and filling eyes. "Anne, child, come here and help an old man."

"He loves to call himself old," said Anne, bustling towards him; "but there's nothing old about him, except his beard, and that's not old, only gray. I'm used to his big pockets;" she laughed, diving into their capacious depths, bringing out several bundles, which he laid upon the bed. How Tilly's eyes danced to be sure, for first of all came coveted grapes, white as pearl, and luscious as nectar. Next came four golden skinned oranges of the true Messina type, thin peel, great cells filled to bursting with honeyed syrup, and then a package of figs that were so fresh they seemed to have been picked yesterday, and packed the same day.

"O, mother, isn't he kind?" cried Tilly; "I think I never saw so many good things at a time before. Why, he's like a fairy-prince."

"It's just like him;" cried Anne, her eyes sparkling, too, "just like everything he does; you wouldn't be at all surprised, if you knew him."

"Hold there, hold hard, as the sailors say," responded Uncle Ralph; "for I fear I have not handkerchief enough to hide my blushes, if you keep on in this way. The fact is, I love to help the little folks. Consider this beard and these wrinkles all a mistake. I'm a child myself, and nothing makes me happier than to be among children; my only trouble is that my big limbs stand in the way of a frolic, or I should be up to boyish antics every day of my life, I fear. Come here, Anne darling, let Tilly eat some grapes, while you look over beyond, between these houses., and tell me what you see." "Why, grandpa!" cried Anne, in some amazement.

"Well?"

"If it wasn't so far round -- yes. I'm sure it's ours; why, grandpa!"

He smiled.

"It certainly is ours; there's Patsy in the garden now; how pretty she looks, how black and glossy!"

Tilly stopped eating the grapes.

"And our vase, I was a little uncertain, but I don't believe there are such pretty verbenas in the city. Why, I can look right over here, from our yard, and almost see you;" she cried, turning to the invalid.

"It's her mother!" cried Tilly, quite pale and breathless, dropping the fruit and clasping her hands together, "that's another mercy of the good God; it's her. O! I see you almost every day. And before ever you came here, loved you dearly."

"Indeed Tilly has talked of the young lady in the big yard over yonder, poor thing, for she watches for her day to day. It's very glad we are to find that out, miss."

"And so she has seen me," said Anne quite surprised and pleased. "How very strange! And if it's been of any good to her, how glad I am! I'm sure I never dreamed of it. And that's only a small corner of our garden; if you could but see it all, with the lovely roses, and azaleas. Our lilies are out, too. Why didn't I bring you some flowers? we have so many, I'll send a bunch over. Since we live so near each other, we must be better acquainted, you and I. 0, uncle! it's come." This last exclamation was made in a half whisper to her grandpapa, who stood by enjoying himself hugely, and pulling at his great snowy beard. He only nodded, and then looked expectantly at the door.

"You have another visitor, I think."

"Let 'em come;" said the humble woman, gathering up the sewing while, Tilly still gazed with love and admiration at her new found friend; "it's all the better for her, now the heft of the work is done."

"Yes, I am sure it will be the better for her;" murmured Uncle Ralph as a solid knock sounded. He went himself to let the visitor in. There it stood at the door, voiceless, moveless, but by one vigorous pull it entered, revealing a beautiful chair, covered with green cloth, and so easily adjusted that just by touching a spring it would wheel about at the will of the operator. Tilly's mother stood breathless, looking from the chair to Uncle Ralph. Tilly, with flushed cheeks and glistening eyes, almost devoured the beautiful thing with her glances.