e hurt sounded
in her voice; but Audrey did not hear, she was already on her way to the
study.

Faith got off the bed, drew down the blind herself, then clambered on to
her bed again; but there was no pleasure in the rest now.
She was conscious all the time that she was crushing the pillows and the
quilt and spoiling the look of everything. "I wish I had a rug and a
cushion, that I could lie on the floor. It seems wrong to be lying here."
However, as she was there, she thought she might as well stay, and
presently she dozed, until Audrey's return woke her.

"Father says I may have the attic," she announced bluntly, but she was not
as exuberant about it as Faith had expected her to be. Without saying
anything more, she went to a drawer and took out a large apron.

"Are you going to begin at once?" asked Faith, sitting erect in her
excitement.

"I may as well. What is the use of waiting?"

"I was only thinking of the heat--and the noise. We shall have to be so
awfully careful not to disturb mother. What did daddy say, Audrey?"

"Oh," he said: "'Yes, certainly,'" a pause.

"Was that all?"

"No, he--he seemed to think I was going to take Debby with me--as you had
Joan; but I might as well stay here as do that! Better, in fact.
If Debby thought the attic was as much hers as mine, I should have no
peace in my life. I should never be able to keep her out."

Faith got slowly off the bed. "I don't suppose Debby would care to go,
either," she said quietly. "I will have her in here with me. There will
be plenty of room, and I shall be able to keep an eye on her."

"Yes--that's a capital idea," Audrey's face brightened. "She will love
being here with you and Joan. Now I am going down to get a brush and some
dusters. I shall first of all sweep out the attic. I am going to have it
as nice and clean and pretty as ever I can get it."

"I will come and help you," said Faith with as much energy as she could
muster. She was very hot and tired still, and her head ached as badly as
ever.

When Mary heard what Audrey wanted the brushes for, she came too, to lend
a hand. She even washed the floor, to take up any loose dust, and "make
it sweet," as she said. "It dries as fast as I wash it," she added,
"it is that hot up here to-day, and such a breeze blows in."
Good-tempered Mary also cleaned the window, and put up a pair of holland
curtains--the best that could be found.

"They will do for the time," said Aud