, won't you?"

Aunt Hannah fell back in her chair.

"Why, y-yes, Billy, of course, if--if you want it. But what an
extraordinary idea, child!"

Billy shook her head. A deeper color came to her cheeks, and a softer
glow to her eyes.

"I don't think so, Aunt Hannah. It's only that I'm so happy that some
of it has just got to overflow somewhere, and this is going to be the
overflow house--a sort of safety valve for me, you see. I'm going to
call it the Annex--it will be an annex to our home. And I want to keep
it full, always, of people who--who can make the best use of all that
extra happiness that I can't possibly use myself," she finished a little
tremulously. "Don't you see?"

"Oh, yes, I _see_," replied Aunt Hannah, with a fond shake of the head.

"But, really, listen--it's sensible," urged Billy. "First, there's
Tommy. His mother died last month. He's at a neighbor's now, but they're
going to send him to a Home for Crippled Children; and he's grieving his
heart out over it. I'm going to bring him here to a real home--the kind
that doesn't begin with a capital letter. He adores music, and he's got
real talent, I think. Then there's the Greggorys."

Aunt Hannah looked dubious.

"You can't get the Greggorys to--to use any of that happiness, Billy.
They're too proud."

Billy smiled radiantly.

"I know I can't get them to _use_ it, Aunt Hannah, but I believe I can
get them to _give_ it," she declared triumphantly. "I shall ask Alice
Greggory to teach Tommy music, and I shall ask Mrs. Greggory to teach
him books; and I shall tell them both that I positively need them to
keep you company."

"Oh, but Billy," bridled Aunt Hannah, with prompt objection.

"Tut, tut!--I know you'll be willing to be thrown as a little bit of a
sop to the Greggorys' pride," coaxed Billy. "You just wait till I get
the Overflow Annex in running order. Why, Aunt Hannah, you don't know
how busy you're going to be handing out all that extra happiness that I
can't use!"

"You dear child!" Aunt Hannah smiled mistily. The black shawl had fallen
unheeded to the floor now. "As if anybody ever had any more happiness
than one's self could use!"

"I have," avowed Billy, promptly, "and it's going to keep growing and
growing, I know."

"Oh, my grief and conscience, Billy, don't!" exclaimed Aunt Hannah,
lifting shocked hands of remonstrance. "Rap on wood--do! How can you
boast like that?"

Billy dimpled roguishly and sprang to her feet.

"