e, and the young people were as busy and as happy as
ever they had been in getting their little new home settled. They
drove away about seven o'clock after a hasty supper, with their
platters of sandwiches safely guarded on the back seat; and Julia
Cloud watched them, and smiled and was glad. She wondered whether this
work would get such a hold upon them that it would last after they
started their college work, and fervently hoped that it might, so that
there would be another link to bind them to God's house and His work.
She sighed to think how many things there would likely be to draw them
away.

About ten o'clock Leslie telephoned. She wanted to bring Jane Bristol
home for the night, as the people where Jane was living were away, and
she would otherwise have to stay alone in a big house. Julia Cloud
readily assented, and she and Cherry had a pleasant half-hour putting
one of the guest-rooms in order. It was while she was doing this that
she began to wonder seriously what Jane Bristol would be like. Who was
brought intimately into their new home might mean so much to her two
children. And in this room, too, after Cherry had gone to bed, she
knelt and breathed a consecrating prayer. Then she went down-stairs to
wait for the coming of her children, building up the fire and lighting
the porch light so that all would be cheery and attractive for them
and their guest. Only a little, lonesome child who did housework for
her living, but it was good to be able to give her a pleasant
welcome.

In a few minutes the car arrived, and the two girls came chattering
in, while Allison put the car away. At least, Leslie was chattering.

"I think you look so lovely in that soft blue dress!" she was saying.
"It is so graceful, and the color just fits your eyes."

"It's only some old accordion-pleated chiffon I had," answered the
guest half ashamed. "I had to wash it and dye it and make it myself,
and I wasn't sure the pleats would iron out, or that it would do at
all. You know I don't have much use for evening dresses, and I really
couldn't afford to get one. That's the reason I hesitated at your
suggestion about having receptions and parties. But I guess you have
to have them."

"You don't mean to say you made it all yourself! Why you're a wonder!
Isn't she, Cloudy? Just take her in and look for yourself! She made
that dress all herself out of old things that she washed and dyed.
Why, it looks like an imported frock. Doesn't it l