k on the bureau told her that it was
high time the day had begun. She looked fearfully out of the window,
half expecting to see Ellen's Ford bobbing down the hill already,
and then hurried down to the kitchen. Allison soon came down,
calling out to her to be ready when he came back with the car; but
the delicious odors that had already begun to float out from the old
kitchen made him lenient toward the idea of breakfast; and, when he
came back with the full cut-out roaring the announcement of his
arrival to the Perkinses, he was quite ready to wait a few minutes and
eat some of Julia Cloud's flapjacks and sausages with maple-syrup and
apple-sauce.

Julia Cloud herself ate little. She was in a tremor of delightful
uncertainty and dread. Ought she to go ahead this way and manage her
own affairs, leaving her own sister out of the question? But then, if
she consulted with Ellen that meant consulting with Herbert; for
Herbert ran his wife most thoroughly, and Herbert could make things
very unpleasant when he took the trouble.

So, when the children, unable at last to eat any more, pleaded with
her to leave the dishes and go to see the man about the house at
once, she gave one swift, apprehensive glance about, and assented. If
Ellen should come to the house while they were away, and should look
in at the window and see the breakfast dishes standing! It would be
appalling! But, as the children said, why worry? Somehow she felt like
a little schoolgirl playing hookey as she carefully drew down the
dining-room and kitchen window-shades that looked on the back porch,
and locked the front door behind her. Well, perhaps she had earned the
right to take this bit of a holiday, and wash her dishes when she
liked. Anyhow, hadn't God sent these blessed children to her in answer
to her earnest prayer that He would show her what to do and save her
if possible from having to spend the remainder of her days under
Herbert Robinson's roof? Well, then she would just accept it that way
and be grateful, at least until He showed her otherwise. So she drew a
long breath of delight, and climbed into the luxurious back seat of
the great blue car, utterly oblivious of the prying eyes behind the
parlor shade across the way.

CHAPTER IV

Down the little village street, past the station, and across the
railroad toward Harmony swept the great blue car, with the villagers
turning to stare at Miss Cloud taking a ride so early in the morning
i