n a brown dress with touches of white.

"It has appealed to me at times that she was a shade neglectful of her
home duties, but he does not seem to feel that way. He cheerfully stays
in the sitting-room, while she is away having a good time, and sings
while he cares for the four small children. I must tell you about his
music. I am sure he never saw inside a conservatory. I think he merely
picked up what he knows by ear and without vocal training, but there
is a tenderness in his tones, a depth of pure melody, that I never have
heard surpassed. It may be that I think more of his music than that
of some other good vocalists hereabout, because I see more of him and
appreciate his devotion to his home life.

"I just had an encounter with him at the west fence, and induced him to
carry a small gift to his children. When I see the perfect harmony in
which he lives, and the depth of content he and the brown lady find in
life, I am almost persuaded to-- Now this is going to be poetry," said
Elnora. "Move your pen over here and begin with a quote and a cap."

Philip's face had been an interesting study while he wrote her
sentences. Now he gravely set the pen where she indicated, and Elnora
dictated--

"Buy a nice little home in the country,
And settle down there for life."

"That's the truth!" cried Philip. "It's as big a temptation as I ever
had. Go on!"

"That's all," said Elnora. "You can finish. The moths are done. I am
going hunting for whatever I can find for the grades."

"Wait a minute," begged Philip. "I am going, too."

"No. You stay with mother and finish your letter."

"It is done. I couldn't add anything to that."

"Very well! Sign your name and come on. But I forgot to tell you all
the bargain. Maybe you won't send the letter when you hear that. The
remainder is that you show me the reply to my part of it."

"Oh, that's easy! I wouldn't have the slightest objection to showing you
the whole letter."

He signed his name, folded the sheets and slipped them into his pocket.

"Where are we going and what do we take?"

"Will you go, mother?" asked Elnora.

"I have a little work that should be done," said Mrs. Comstock. "Could
you spare me? Where do you want to go?"

"We will go down to Aunt Margaret's and see her a few minutes and get
Billy. We will be back in time for supper."

Mrs. Comstock smiled as she watched them down the road. What a
splendid-looking pair of young creatures they wer