g spoiled or delayed it.
There was Aunt Ellen. There was no telling what she might not do to
hinder, and Julia Cloud was easily troubled by her sister, they could
see that, wise children that they were; so they worked with all their
might and main.

Two more men were requisitioned, and the furniture began a steady
march up to the attic, where it was to be stored.

Leslie developed a talent for finding the place where she was most
needed and getting to work. She put the sideboard drawers in order,
and then went to packing away garments from the closets in drawers and
trunks and chests, until by four o'clock a great many little nooks and
corners in the house were absolutely clear and empty, ready for the
cleaning before the new tenants arrived, although, to tell the truth,
there was scarcely a spot in Julia Cloud's house that needed much
cleaning, because it had always been kept immaculate.

When Ellen Robinson in her car arrived in sight of the house at
half-past four she identified the parlor and dining-room carpets
hanging on a line strung across the back yard, and two bedroom carpets
being beaten in the side yard. Mrs. Perkins from her patient
watch-tower had also identified them, and hurried out to greet her
friend and get more accurate information; but Ellen was in too much of
a hurry to get inside and secure several other articles, which she had
thought of and desired to have, to spend much time in gossip.
Besides, if Julia was really going, it was just as well to make as
much of it as possible; so she greeted Mrs. Perkins as one too busy
with important affairs to tell details, and hurried into the house.
Standing within the old hallway, she gazed about, startled. How on
earth had Julia managed to tear up things in such a hurry? The
pictures had all vanished from the walls. The books were gone from the
old book-case; the furniture itself was being carried away, the
marble-topped table being the last piece left. The woman was washing
the parlor floor, slopping on the soapy water with that air of
finality that made Ellen Robinson realize that the old home was broken
up at last. Grimly she walked into the dining-room, and saw immaculate
empty closets and cleanly shining window-panes. As far as the work had
progressed it had been done thoroughly.

Up-stairs a cheery chatter came from the rooms, and Ellen Robinson
experienced a pang of real jealousy of these two young things who had
swept in and carried her neglect