omen," she said, "I've come to see what
you're doing to divert my mind from them."

"We're going to make two of these seats, one for your office and the
other for the veranda," said Ethel Brown, standing erect and putting a
hand upon her weary back. The rest of the young carpenters stopped
their work and wiped their perspiring foreheads while they explained
the construction of the piece of furniture to their friend.

"This long narrow box is the seat, you see. It's a shoe case, and it's
just the right height for comfort. Roger has put hinges on the cover,
so you can use it for a chest and keep rugs and cushions inside."

"That's about as simple as it could be. Does it take all of you to
help Roger do that?"

"O, that's only a part of the entire affair. We're making these two
sets of shelves to go at the ends of the seat."

"I see. A great light breaks on me!"

"They're to be fastened to the ends of the seat."

"Not for keeps. That's Ethel Blue's patent. She said it would be
awkward to move about if it were all built together, so we're making it
in three parts, and we're going to lock them together with hooks and
screw eyes."

"That is clever! Then if you want to you can use these sets of shelves
for little bookcases in another room or you can fasten on one of them
and not the other."

"Ethel Blue and I thought we'd make pink cushions for your office if
you'd like them."

"I think they'd be charming. That pink room raises my spirits when--"

"--when you get _blue_?" suggested Roger.

"I'll have to go there now to get revived if those women who walked to
town don't turn up soon," and the Matron went to the corner of the
house whence she could see the lane that led from the road. "If they
come home ill I'll have to ask you to make two bed trays," she
suggested as she peered across the grass.

"How do you make them?"

"Ask Ethel Blue."

"Merely put legs on a light board so that the weight of the plates will
be lifted from the sick person's legs as he sits up in bed."

"What's to prevent the plates sliding off?"

"Nothing if he's much of a kicker, I should say," laughed Roger; "but
you could put a little fence an inch or two high at the back and sides
and keep them on board."

"You'd better begin them right off," said Mrs. Schuler dryly, "for here
they come."

She disappeared around the corner and the young people followed to see
what was the matter.

Trouble there was in very truth. Mr