an apron over her dress, she made herself very busy for
the next half-hour, passing in and out, pausing to listen or put in her
word now and then, sometimes claiming help from Jem or Davie in some
household matter to which she put her hand. At last, with an air of
pride and pleasure that Miss Bethia thought pretty to see, she called
them to tea.

"You have got to be quite a house-keeper," said Miss Bethia, as they sat
down to the table.

"Hasn't she?" said Jem and Davie in a breath.

"I mean to be, at any rate," said Violet, nodding and laughing gaily.
"I like it a great deal better than teaching children, only, you know,
it doesn't pay quite so well."

"I guess it will, in the long run," said Miss Barnes.

"I am going to be house-keeper for the next two months. Sarah and
Charlotte are to have no lessons for that time, and Betsey can take care
of them in the country quite as well as I--better, indeed. Mamma needs
me at home. Don't you think so, Davie? I can find enough to do at
home; can't I?"

"But, as you say, it wouldn't pay so well."

"In one way, perhaps, it wouldn't, but in another way it would. But
mamma doesn't say anything," added Violet, disconsolately.

"We must sleep upon it, mamma thinks," said Jem.

"We need not be in haste to decide upon it for a day or two," said Mrs
Inglis.

"I am afraid we must, mamma. The sooner the better, Mr Oswald says;
and that is why I came to-day."

"I wish you would come and keep house for me. I am getting tired of
it," said Miss Bethia.

"I should like it well--with mamma and the children."

"Of course, that is understood," said Miss Bethia. "And you could take
these others with you, couldn't you? And what their father would pay
for them would help your house-keeping."

"Miss Bethia spoke as coolly as if she had been speaking about the
stirring up of a Johnny cake," Jem said. Violet looked eagerly from her
to her mother. There was a little stir and murmur of excitement went
round the table, but all awaited for their mother to speak. But she
said nothing, and Miss Bethia went on, not at all as if she were saying
anything to surprise anybody, but just as she would have told any piece
of news.

"I've thought of it considerable. Serepta Stone has concluded to go
away to a water-cure place in the States. If Debby should conclude to
go to another place, I shouldn't care about staying in that big house
alone. I can let it next fall, I expect. But