Betty went sometimes, but not so gladly, for she never quite got over the fright of that dreadful day, and a terrible lurking dread that she might accidentally shock her aunt again, and once more hear that strange, far-away voice, and see her falling, falling.

But Kitty never failed; and Kitty was, perhaps, the best beloved of them all by the aunt who had tried, and been so tried by, them.
"You see, Kitty was the only one who willingly kissed me and called me 'dear,'" the poor invalid confessed one day to the doctor as they sat together in the firelight talking over many things--"the only one since Michael died; and cold, reserved folk such as I remember these things." "She has a warm heart has my Kitty," said the doctor softly, "and a generous one;" then, fearing as usual the effect of any emotion on the invalid, "She told me that if I came here I was to look about me and see if she had left her gloves about.

She thinks she lost one on the way here, but may have dropped the other in the house, as she is almost certain she had one with her.

It doesn't much matter, though; they were very full of holes, oddly enough," with a smile.
Aunt Pike's mouth twitched a little at the corners as she opened her work-basket and took out two rather shabby gloves.

"One was under the table; some one picked up the other in the garden.