The S. W. F. Club

Shaw's answering from her own room, she ran on up-stairs. "O

e calling just now. Pauline, dear,

lease! Now it's really

eld out h

essed to you," Mrs. S

own on the wide window seat, near her mother's chair, tearing open the envelope. As she spread out

ved a check from anyone before. "Mother! listen!" and she read aloud, "'P

ht to be able to do a good d

s, after a discreet interval, curling herself up unobtrusively in a big

f color on each cheek. Presently, she handed it to her m

haw read,

CITY, May

e A. Shaw,

seem to me that home was the best place for her. I do not at all approve of this modern fashion of running about the country, on any and every pretext. Also, if I remember

onth during the summer, the sum of twenty-five dollars, to be used in procuring for your sisters and yourself-I understand, there is a third child-such simple and healthful diversions as your parents may approve,

s may prove

espect

A.

sked, as Mrs. Shaw finished reading. "

mely characteri

, "that you are the inconsideratest persons! You kn

when Patience had obeyed-not very willingly, Mrs. Shaw turned again to Pauline.

You show it to him

e lawn to the village street, with its double rows of tall, old trees. So her flag had served little purpose af

ton. As though Hilary and she did not already know every stick a

lived here all their lives. And, besides, she had expressly tol

r from the garden. Pauline went down, feeling that it mattered very little what her

arsonage and church. She had been rereading Uncle Paul's letter, and to P

her?" the

d the matter over, and we have decided to

ition! How is Hilary t

nt

that even if Uncle Paul didn't agree, she really believed w

l, now that we k

rk definitely to

ow, mo

ht now. I must go down to Jane's for a few moments. After all, Pauline,

ll still b

ome unexplored corner

gure in the swing, under the big cherry-tree at the foot of the lawn, she asked, "I suppos

many details, Pauline. Patience is

suppose we go see if there ar

they were only a pretext. Grown people were assuredly very queer-bu

," she said, skipping along beside

r thin

't y

r a while. Hilary

asked Uncle Paul? And didn

re not sick," said

Hilary needs is a

esn't know

le Paul goin

ry month-to have goo

se blue pap

so," Paul

the ungratefullest girls! Is it for us al

course, Hilary

begin, and what will they be like? O Paul, just think of the good ti

side it, her hands clasped around her knees. "Good times in Winton will be a

ring the garden at the back. Patience's enthusiasm was inf

cni

lot of picnics-y

s put up such beautiful lunches. O Paul, couldn't

auline laughed

e's, and by'n'by there'll be the town fair.

eared, one after another, down Patience's small throat. "Perhaps, if you

so we could celebrate," Patience suggested. "Paul, ma

e what mo

so far over after a particularly tempting berry, tha

s to happen clean-apron afternoon! Paul, wouldn't it be a 'good time,' if Miranda wo

ne asked. "Come on, Patience, we've got about all the ripe

er good time," Patience answered. "We di

whether maybe mother wouldn't think it good to have Jane in

She likes to work w

ice lady. Do you t

about other th

er. Goodness, Miranda

sped th

and Pauline appeared lost in thoughts of her own. Patience fidgeted as openly as she dared. Of all queer grown-ups-and it looked as though most grown-ups were more or less queer-fa

iced, as far as he was concerned, though Mrs. Shaw gav

ppose we get Hilary to pretend-that coming home is coming to a new place? That she is coming to visit

be a good pl

e'll have to have the spa

, mother, Hilary doesn't like the spare room;

pening out ahead of them seemed full of delightful possibilities. "I hope Miranda catches on to the game, and gives us pound

nce-couldn't we do the spare room over-there's tha

ome alterations,

to-morrow morning. I suppose we ca

ng that it is

er. "We've got the most beautiful scheme on hand, father," Pauline told him, wheeling forward his favorite chair. She hoped he would sit

ut he settled himself comfortably in the big chair, quite as th

. "It does appear an excellent idea," he said; "but why should it be Hilary only, w

help us? And we'll all pretend. Maybe Uncle P

in developing the oppo

stroked the head Towse

l be the gainers-if we

ll achieve th

How could she have thought

ow, we're going to try it, aren't we. Mother Shaw? Patience th

the monotony and routine that Hilary found so irksome, the result must be satisfactory. And lastly, there was the comforting conviction, that whatever displeasure her father

tters of the four windows, letting in the fresh morning air. The side windows faced west, and looked out across

uline decided, shaking her head disapprovingly, but it had possibilities. No room, with four such gen

? The paper, I mean-and the carpet isn't much better. It did very well, I suppose, for the vis

u are right, dear. As to the

ittle touch of color in the border, and, oh, Mother

ensive,

he did the study last year. Mother, couldn't we have Jane in for the washing and ironi

ther fussy about letting other peo

ask

s going to bring new demands-don't

anything on this room excep

ge store for samples of paper. She had already settled the m

all and gaunt, and somewhat severe looking; however, in her case, looks were deceptive. It would never have occurred to Miranda that the Shaws' interests w

the spare room, "what put that notion in your head,

mething of Uncle Paul's letter and how

in the dish water-"That's you

dded. "And

ters. I guess I can manage 'bout the papering. But it does go 'gainst me, having that sexton woman in. Sti

m?" Paul

s getting on, and the other one's

; she hadn't thought of that before. Suppose he

t, Pauline was overtake

the new things now, Pa

t, just get s

lot of getting ready

I may go with you t

nly, you've got to promise not

t-all t

Impat

es

paper for, or anything about what we a

uld be might

are

e been turning your hair up, Paul Shaw. When I put my hair up, I'm goin

all to Patience's liking. "All the

Patience asked, as th

ere, Patience thought; she would have liked to make a slow round of the whole store, exchanging greetings and various confidences

essgoods just received, when the young fellow in charge of the post-office and tele

r received a telegram before-Was Hilary? Then she laughed at herself. To have

nvelope, not heeding Patience's curious

train Saturday, am sending you an

hurry, Patience. I wan

ca