," said Joy, "but I think Merriweather Manor is much nicer."

"Thanks, Joy. I'm always so proud and happy when you girls say you
like my home. To me it's just the loveliest place in the world. I
wouldn't change it for anything modern. Sometimes Auntie Gibbs gets
fussy and says it's too much work."

"Your dear old housekeeper is getting old," said Enid.

"Yes, Auntie Gibbs is almost seventy and Dad wants her to have plenty
of help. But she won't hear of it and she won't retire. So what are
we to do?" said Bet wistfully. "You know Dad and I love Auntie Gibbs
and Uncle Nat as much as if they were really members of our family."

The girls were thrilled as they stepped inside the old mansion. Here
Washington had lived. He once sat at that very table, used those
dishes, drank from those glasses. They could scarcely believe it.

They tried to imagine him as he had been before the responsibilities of
the great war lay heavy on his shoulders. The young Washington, owner
of the estate. There must have been gay parties in this house. Bet
shut her eyes for a second and could see the belles of that day. She
wondered if Lady Betty Merriweather had ever been a guest in the house.
It would not be impossible. She hoped that it was so.

"Some day," said Bet, as they were returning to Washington on the boat,
"let's come and live for a winter in Washington. Then we can see
things thoroughly. This is just skimming the surface. We haven't seen
anything well."

"Oh yes, we have!" laughed Joy. "There's that Capitol. I could draw
it with my eyes shut!"

But the girls were tired enough so that, a few days later, they
welcomed the announcement that they would leave Washington at midnight.

The train with their cozy berths looked good to them and they settled
down for the two days' trip to Arizona. It was good not to have to go
sight-seeing for a while.

Shirley strapped her camera in its case and laid it away. She had
taken so many pictures in Washington that she was tired, for once in
her life.

But that did not last long. Very quickly the nature of the country
changed and they were going through the south-land, where the huts of
the negroes added a picturesque touch to the landscape. Charming
little black-eyed pickaninnies were at the stations and grinned at
Shirley while she took their pictures.

"Girls, I'll have pictures enough for my shop this winter, and for half
a dozen more!" Shirley exclaimed. Shir