n dining-room
that night that people around began to ask who were those two
charming young people and their beautiful mother. Little ripples of
query went around the room as they entered, for they were indeed
noticeable anywhere. The young people were bubbling over with life and
spirits and kindliness, and Julia Cloud in her silvery robes and her
white hair made a pleasant picture. But they were so wholly wrapped up
in their own housekeeping plans that they were utterly unaware of the
interest they excited in their fellow-boarders. Just at present they
had no time to spare on other people. They were playing a game, just
as they used to play house when they were little, with their aunt; and
they wanted no interruption until they should have completed the home
and were ready to move in and begin to live. After that other people
might come in for their attention.

The next morning bright and early Allison was up and out, hunting his
man, and announced triumphantly at the breakfast-table that he was
found and would be down at the house and ready for work in half an
hour. Breakfast became a brief ceremony after that. For Julia Cloud
also had not been idle, and had procured the address of a good woman
to clean the house. Allison rushed off after the car, and in a few
minutes they were on their way, first to leave Julia Cloud and Leslie
at the house to superintend the man, and then to hunt the woman. He
presently returned with a large colored woman sitting imposingly in
the back seat, her capable hands folded in her lap, a look of intense
satisfaction on her ample countenance.

Julia Cloud had thoughtfully brought from home a large bundle of
cleaning-rags, and a little canned-alcohol heater presently supplied
hot water. Leslie made a voyage of discovery, and purchased soap and
scouring-powder; and soon the whole little house was a hive of
workers.

"Now," said Julia Cloud, opening the bundle of curtain material,
"where shall we begin?"

"Right here," said Leslie, looking around the big white living-room
with satisfaction. "I'm just longing to see this look like a home; and
you must admit, Cloudy, that this room is the real heart of the house.
We'll eat and sleep and work and study in the other rooms; but here
we'll really live, right around that dear fireplace. I'm just crazy to
see it made up and burning. Oh, won't it be great?"

Busy hands and shining scissors went to work, measuring, cutting,
turning hems; and presen