trong. But these Peyton
youngsters--I certainly don't think taking care of them ought to have
been on the bill. That idiot Lucy--" His expressive face finished the
sentence for him.

Celia smiled. "I know. I feel as you do, and I think father and mother
are a little anxious lest Charlotte has taken too much care on her
shoulders. But Charlotte and Andy have set out to make everybody happy,
and they're seizing every chance that offers. They're so enthusiastic
about it one can't bear to dampen their ardour. The least we can do is
to help them whenever we can."

Jeff made a wry face. "I don't mind assisting in the boy's education,
but I draw the line at the girl. She's a silly. Why, she--" His face
coloured with resentment. "It sounds crazy to say, but she does, for a
fact, make eyes at every man or boy she sees."

Celia laughed. "I hadn't noticed. But she can't mean to, Jeff. She's
only fifteen."

"That's the idiocy of it. She's only fifteen, but you watch her the next
time any of us fellows come into the room. Just can tell you; he's in a
chronic state of laugh over it. She thinks she's a beauty, and she
thinks we're all impressed with the fact."

"She is pretty."

"I don't think so. I don't call any girl pretty who's so struck with
herself that she can't get by a mirror without a glance and a pat of
that big fluff of front hair. You don't catch Eveyln looking into a
glass or acting as if she thought everybody was about to fall in love
with her. I'm going to take her skating when she gets strong enough."

"That won't be for some time, I'm afraid. But she certainly is looking
better already."

So she was. Charlotte had begun very gently with Evelyn, reducing the
temperature of the daily bath only by a degree at a time, lessening the
heat in the sleeping room, opening the windows for outside air an inch
more each night, coaxing her out for a short walk of gradually
increasing length each day, and generally luring her toward more
healthful ways of living than those to which she had been accustomed.

Bedtime found Evelyn exceedingly weary, but it was healthful weariness,
and she was beginning to be able to sleep.

A tinge of colour was growing in the pale cheeks, a brighter expression
in the large eyes, and altogether the young guest was showing a
gratifying response to the new methods.

"I think," said Charlotte to Evelyn one morning, when three weeks had
gone by, "we shall have to celebrate your improvement b