't been out for a number of years, and she knew
she ought not to laugh at such pranks now; but it was so funny to
think of Herbert Robinson being kidded in the midst of his courting!

The dimple started the lights dancing in Leslie's eyes.

"There! now you dear old Jewel, you know you don't want to talk to
Aunt Ellen about us. She'll just mess things all up. Let's just _do_
things, and get 'em all fixed up, and then tell her when it's too late
for her to make a fuss," gurgled Leslie down close to Julia's ear,
finishing up with a delicious bear-hug.

"I suppose she'll be mortally offended," murmured Julia Cloud in
troubled hesitancy.

"Well, suppose she is; she'll get over it, won't she?" growled
Allison. "And anyhow you're old enough to manage your own affairs,
Cloudy Jewel. I guess you're older than she is, aren't you? I guess
you've got a right to do as you please, haven't you? And you _do_ want
to go with us, don't you?" His voice was anxious.

"I certainly do, dear boy," said Julia Cloud eagerly; "but you know
your guardian may not approve at all when he sees what a foolish
'young' aunt I am, allowing you to sit up late and talk fairy stories
all the time."

They smothered her in kisses, compliments, and assurances; and it was
some time before the conversation swung around again to the important
subject of the morning.

"You don't have to do anything to the house but just shut it up, do
you?" asked Allison, looking anxiously about in a helpless, mannish
way. "Because, if you do, we ought to be getting to work."

"There's a man over at Harmony Village that wanted to rent a house
here," said Julia Cloud thoughtfully. "I might write a letter to him.
I don't know whether he's found anything or not. He's the new
superintendent of the high school. But it's time we got dressed and
had breakfast."

"Write to him nothing!" said Allison eagerly. "I'll get the car, and
we'll drive over to Harmony in no time, and get the thing fixed up.
Hustle there, Leslie, and get yourself togged up. We don't need to
wait for breakfast; we can eat cookies. Hurry everybody!" And he
slammed over to his own room and began to stir about noisily.

Julia Cloud arose and made a hasty toilet, with a bright spot of
excitement on each cheek; but she had no time to think what Ellen
would say, for she meant that these children should have a real
old-time breakfast before they began the day; and now that she was
up her little round black cloc