. A moment
later she put out her head.

"Phoebe Wise," she said, "if you take my advice, you'll make your bed
an' tidy yer room at once. Ain't any use waitin' any longer fer a chance
to air."

Phoebe smiled and moved toward her own door.

"Thet's a good idea," said Droop. "You fix yer rooms an' I'll do some
figurin'. Ye see I've got to figure out how long it'll take us to get
back six years. I've a notion it'll take about eighteen hours, but I
ain't certain sure."

Poor Rebecca set to work in her rooms with far from enviable feelings.
Her curiosity had been largely satisfied and the unwonted conditions
were proving very trying indeed. Could she have set out with the
prospect of returning to those magical days of youth and courtship, as
Droop had originally proposed, the end would have justified the means.
But they could not do this now if they would, for Phoebe had left her
baby clothes behind. Thus her disappointment added to her burdens, and
she found herself wishing that she had never left her comfortable home,
however amazing had been her adventures.

"I could'v aired my bed at least," she muttered, as she turned the
mattress of her couch in the solitude of her chamber.

She found the long-accustomed details of chamber work a comfort and
solace, and, as she finally gazed about the tidy room at her completed
work, she felt far more contented with her lot than she had felt before
beginning.

"I guess I'll go help Phoebe," she thought. "The girl is that slow!"

As she came from her room she found Copernicus leaning over the table,
one hand buried in his hair and the other wielding a pencil. He was
absorbed in arithmetical calculations.

She did not disturb him, but turned and entered Phoebe's room without
the formality of knocking. As she opened the door, there was a sharp
clatter, as of a door or lid slamming.

"Who's there?" cried Phoebe, sharply.

She was seated on the floor in front of her trunk, and she looked up at
her sister with a flushed and startled face.

"Oh, it's you!" she said, guiltily.

Rebecca glanced at the bed.

It had not been touched.

"Well, I declare!" Rebecca exclaimed. "Ain't you ever agoin' to fix up
your room, Phoebe Wise?"

"Oh, in a minute, Rebecca. I was just agoin' over my trunk a minute."

She leaned back against the foot of the bed, and folding her hands gazed
pensively into vacancy, while Rebecca stared at her in astonishment.

"Do you know," Phoebe went on, "I'