The House That Grew

had only been saying to each other how sweet and pretty it all looked and-though perhaps they

mamma answered gaily to Esmé's excl

lanced up with a very red face from the fire where he was toasting

He always spoke like that if he thought he was being praised-above all, the

was a great success altogether. After it was over we carried all the cups and saucers and plates into the kitchen, to be ready

verything in the parlour we saw Margery coming, and to my great delight Esmé asked if she and Denzil might 'help he

ting Geordie and myself too much on a line with papa and mamma, doesn't it?-sat silent. I was feeling rathe

imes and even giving me two or three littl

only fair for her to say it, for it's all her own

d at me ve

ou know how pleased I-and your mother-will be to do

e to do with what he had told us the day before. Yes-only the

gh her eyes were very kind, I grew more and more nervous, and of

it would be nicer for everybody-for mamma too, and for papa, when you are far away, you know,' and here I turned specially to him, 'not t

' said papa smiling, 'before you go on to

I had not done so-my own min

very sorry for being so stupid. It's just this, papa-we've been thinking, at least I thought of it first, and Dods has joined in

d not understand, and no dou

repeated, 'but

home, at Eastercove, though it would be Eastercove too. That's the beauty of i

azed sort of way, I would say '

e he

r slower at taking up

tle shake, and even Dods, who is far patienter and less im--what should I say?-impetuous or impu

quick, and she has such a beautifully ready imagination. 'I don't see why we shouldn't. It is perfectly healthy; dry and airy and quite warm except perhaps in the middle of winter

lly penetrating

s dry and healthy, and might be made warm, but-it is so small! Ah!' and he started to his feet, h

in his turn up jumped Dods, and, respectful or

. I want to have a bit of it. Is your inspiration the old pari

ee them, Geordie especially, for he is much calme

least. It could not cost much-our own men could do it, I believe. It has doorways and wind

ich we all laughed, though it was not particularly witty. But we were

it this very afternoon,' went on papa, who wa

'and we have plenty to think about. There is no fear of Mr. Lloyd's selling

s,' as it were, of the new home, that they really let us talk ourselves out. Then we four made a sort of progress through the rooms, papa measuring here and there with the little folding-up foot-rule he always carried in his pocket, and mamma plann

d mamma, 'and have a good look round. I don't believe I

into your confidence at o

iron room. She knows our troubles already,' she went on, turning to Geordie and me; 'she has know

on; 'and I should hope she'd like the hut far, far better than going away to some horrid little pok

amma laughing. 'Your plans a

e. I have an idea about that; Geordie and I will talk about it together,' and he nodded t

e said to papa. 'May I go with you when you

spoil the rather pretty look we were gradually managing to give to the front, by training creepers over the porch, and filling two or

if it is all right about the room, I will see the man whom, I think, Mr. Lloyd employed to put it up.

iety that must hang over us for many months to come, at least-that we set off home again, Esmé chattering about how she h

my little girl,' said papa. 'Don't you

ed rather

s out of the frying-pan into the fire,-'you says to mamma or to Ida whe

e all laughed. A very small joke will go a long way when people are all happ

ce and partly, just a very little, 'frightening.' I was proud of my idea being thought so well of, and I was very anxious to think it out more and more, so as really to help mamma and to prove that it was a good one.

s room. I daresay they will use it for visitors. It is so pretty-my own dear room!' For since my last birthday I had had a room to myself, all freshly done up with light chintz curtains and covers and white furniture. But I resolutely put the thought

ut,' I reflected. 'Perhaps we had better

must have fallen asleep, for when I was awakened by Margery and the announcement, 'Seven o'clock, Miss Ida,' I found myself dreaming that

as soon as mamma had finished her regular housekeeping business for the day, she and I went up to the garret together, to spy the land, or

d not fusty or dusty or musty, and we came upon treasures-as often is the cas

idy it really may get,-'I really think we could find enough furniture here to do for all the rooms, after a fashion. And we can certainly take a few things away from downstairs without spoiling the look of the house. Two b

camp bedstead for the hut, you know, whenever you would let us furnish the room that is going to

ll be very nice. We can wait a littl

mma; she never 'snubs' us. And many people, even really very kind people, do hurt children's feelings dreadfully sometimes without in the least meaning it. It is one of the things I mean to try

and I to the schoolroom to practise, whi

ot, at least, for my own performances. Since then I have come to 'appreciate' it a little better, though I am not at all clever about it, and I am

deal to do, measuring and seeing the carpenter and arranging it all. But I felt as if I could not settle to anything till I knew about the iron room, as it did seem as if the whole plan depended a good deal

xious as I, I do believe, though

it was all right. Geordie stood up in the

ad!' I cried, a

This was Monday; on Saturday only had we heard the sad news, and here we were, quite in good, almost high spirits again, about

n in a moment, and threw

--' I

, of course, with us, but so interested in our-I should say,' with a smile to

said Geordie, 'with the drawings and measure

of him,'

orge went on; 'and we must all go down to the

f grow red w

take it down. It is a very good size really, larger than you would think; and there are two doorways, I am glad to find, and a li

mount of extra furniture we have. There will be very little to buy-only, I do believe, one

ave told mamma about our sixteen and sixpence, Doddie,'

ie no

ted papa. 'How have you manag

e to spend on the hut. We have other savings, too,

ut,' said papa, 'on something l

hat nice