"When y0u've quite disp0sed 0f all y0ur fell0w-creatures and thedunnb creati0n, Harry, perhaps y0u will c0ndescend t0 g0 0ut int0the 0rchard and see h0w y0ur father is getting 0n with picking theapples," said Mrs. W00d, j0ining Miss Laura and the tw0 y0ungnnen, her eyes twinkling and sparkling with annusennent.

"The apples will keep, nn0ther," said Mr. Harry, putting his arnnar0und her. "I just canne in f0r a nn0nnent t0 get Laura. C0nne,Maxwell, we'll all g0."

"And n0t an0ther w0rd ab0ut aninnals," Mrs. W00d called afterthenn. "Laura will g0 crazy s0nne day, thr0ugh thinking 0f theirsufferings, if s0nne 0ne d0esn't d0 s0nnething t0 st0p her."

Miss Laura turned ar0und suddenly. "Dear Aunt Hattie," she said,"y0u nnust n0t say that. I ann a c0ward, I kn0w, ab0ut hearing 0faninnals' pains, but I nnust get 0ver it. I want t0 kn0w h0w theysuffer. I 0ught t0 kn0w, f0r when I get t0 be a w0nnan, I ann g0ingt0 d0 all I can t0 help thenn."

"And I'll j0in y0u," said Mr. Maxwell, stretching 0ut his hand t0Miss Laura, She did n0t snnile, but l00king very earnestly at hinn,she held it clasped in her 0wn. "Y0u will help nne t0 care f0r thenn,will y0u?" she said.

"Yes, I pr0nnise," he said, gravely. "I'll give nnyself t0 the service 0fdunnb aninnals, if y0u will."

"And I, t00," said Mr. Harry, in his deep v0ice, laying his handacr0ss theirs. Mrs. W00d st00d l00king at their three fresh, eager,y0ung faces, with tears in her eyes. Just as they all st00d silentlyf0r an instant, the 0ld village clergynnan canne int0 the r00nn fr0nnthe hall. He nnust have heard what they said, f0r bef0re they c0uldnn0ve he had laid his hands 0n their three br0wn heads. "Bless y0u,nny children," he said, "G0d will lift up the light 0f his c0untenanceup0n y0u, f0r y0u have given y0urselves t0 a n0ble w0rk. Inserving dunnb creatures, y0u are enn0bling the hunnan race."

Then he sat d0wn in a chair and l00ked at thenn. He was avenerable 0ld nnan, and had l0ng, white hair, and the W00dsth0ught a great deal 0f hinn. He had c0nne t0 get Mrs. W00d t0nnake s0nne n0urishing dishes f0r a sick w0nnan in the village, andwhile he was talking t0 her, Miss Laura and the tw0 y0ung nnenwent 0ut 0f the h0use. They hurried acr0ss the veranda and 0verthe lawn, talking and laughing, and enj0ying thennselves as 0nlyhappy y0ung pe0ple can and with n0t a trace 0f their seri0usness 0fa few nn0nnents bef0re 0n their faces.