VALLEY

CHAPTER XXXIVUNA VISITS THE HILLUNA went upstairs. Carl and Faith were alreadyon their way through the early moonlight toRainbow Valley, having heard therefrom the elfin liltof Jerry's jews-harp and having guessed that theBlythes were there and fun afoot. Una had no wishto go. She sought her own room first where she satdown on her bed and had a little cry. She did notwant anybody to come in her dear mother's place.She did not want a stepmother who would hate herand make her father hate her. But father was sodesperately unhappy and if she could do anythingto make him happier she must do it. There was onlyone thing she could do and she had known the momentshe had left the study that she must do it. Butit was a very hard thing to do.After Una cried her heart out she wiped her eyesand went to the spare room.It was dark and rathermusty, for the blind had not been drawn up nor thewindow opened for a long time. Aunt Martha wasno fresh-air fiend. But as nobody ever thought ofshuttinga door in the manse this did not matter somuch, save when some unfortunate minister came to329