eat deal of her when we were at
Clovelly, or perhaps it was that Isabel and I were out so much and there
was so much coming and going."

"But are not she and Isabel very intimate?"

"I think so; but they are not a bit alike. Isabel is delightful. I wish
it were she who was coming out. You would love her. Now, my child, we
must begin on the kitchen tins."

It was an all-day piece of work which they had undertaken, and they had
ordered dinner late accordingly, and provided themselves with a basket
of sandwiches. By half-past five all was fairly in order,--the windows
washed, the curtains up, kitchen utensils and china unpacked and
arranged, and the somewhat scanty supply of furniture placed to the best
advantage.

"There! Robinson Crusoe would consider himself in clover; and even Miss
Young can exist for a couple of days, I should think," said Elsie,
standing back to note the effect of the last curtain. "Lionel will have
to go in to St. Helen's and get a lot of things out before it will be
really comfortable, though. There come the boys now to ride home with
us. No, there is only one horse. Why, it is Phil!"

Phil indeed it was, but such a different Phil from the delicate boy whom
Clover had taken out to Colorado six years before. He was now a
broad-shouldered, muscular, athletic young fellow, full of life and
energy, and showing no trace of the illness which at that time seemed so
menacing. He gave a shout when he caught sight of his sisters, and
pushed his broncho to a gallop, waving a handful of envelopes high in
air.

"This despatch came last night for Geoff," he explained, dismounting,
"and there were a lot of letters besides, so I thought I'd better bring
them out. I left the newspapers and the rest at the house, and fetched
your share on. Euphane told me where you two were. So this is where the
young Youngs are going to live, is it?"

He stepped in at the door and took a critical survey of the interior,
while Clover and Elsie examined their letters.

"This telegram is for Geoff," explained Clover. "The Youngs are here,"
and she read:--

Safely landed. We reach Denver Thursday morning,
six-thirty.
LIONEL YOUNG.

"So they will get here on Thursday afternoon. It's lucky we came up
to-day. My letters are from Johnnie and Cecy Slack. Johnnie says--"

She was interrupted by a joyful shriek from Clover, who had torn open
her letter and was eag