idea you had such a temper. You're as bad as Dave
Corbett," asserted Walter teasingly.

His mother tossed her head but he saw her flush uncomfortably.

"I suppose you wouldn't want a regular boarder," suggested the boy in
order to turn the conversation.

"A _boarder_!" There was less disapproval than surprise in the
ejaculation, however.

"Lots of people in the town do take summer boarders," added he.

"The thought never entered my head before," reflected his mother
aloud. "There certainly is plenty of room in the house, and we have a
royal view of the water. Besides, there's the garden. Strangers are
always coming here in vacation time and asking if they may look at it
or sketch it. It never seemed anything very remarkable to me for most
of the flowers have sown themselves and grow like weeds, but of course
there's no denying the hollyhocks, poppies, and larkspur are pretty.
But visitors always call it wonderful."

"Most likely you could get a big price if you were to rent rooms."

"I'm sure I could," replied Mrs. King thoughtfully. "It would help
toward the mortgage and the other bills, too. I've half a mind to try
it, Walter."

"It would mean extra work for you."

"Pooh! What do I care for that? Not a fig! In fact, with both of you
boys away I'd rather be busy than not," was the quick retort.

"Do you suppose Bob would mind?"

"Bob? Why, he's seldom at home nowadays. Why should he care?"

"Aunt Marcia might think----" began the boy mischievously. But the
comment was cut short.

"Oh, I know what your Aunt Marcia would say," broke in Mrs. King.
"She'd hold up her hands in horror and announce that it was beneath
the dignity of the family to take boarders."

They both laughed.

"I believe the very notion of scandalizing her will be what will
decide me," concluded his mother with finality. "I'll put an
advertisement in the Boston paper to-morrow and see what luck I have.
If the right people do not turn up, why I don't have to take them."

"Sure you don't."

"It's a good plan, a splendid plan, Walter. Boarders will give me
company and money too. I wonder it never occurred to me to do it
before." Then she patted the lad's shoulder, adding playfully, "I
guess if you have brains in one direction you must have them in
another. Still, as I said before, I do not fancy your being
responsible for those dogs."

"Pooh! You quit worrying, Ma, or I shall be sorry I told you they were
blue ribbon pups."

"I s