o board. Who's the owner of that joint of yours?
I'd like to tell him what I think of him for separating a homesick
little girl from her pet."

"It would be rather a nuisance if the place was overrun with cats and
dogs and children," Miss Thorley said coldly. "There wouldn't be much
peace or comfort in the house."

"The peace and comfort you've had don't seem to agree with all of you,"
remarked Mr. Jerry pleasantly. "I've seen some of your neighbors who
look as if they needed a big dose of noise and discomfort."

"You must mean Mr. Wells. He does have rather a touch-me-not,
speak-to-me-never manner. And the fuss he makes if there is any noise
in the place after ten o'clock! Imagine him with a cat or a bird."
The picture her imagination made was so impossible that she laughed.

Mr. Jerry drew a contented sigh and ventured to move a trifle nearer.
He started to say something and then changed his mind. He wouldn't say
anything just then that might bring back that distant expression to her
face. He knew very well how cold and forbidding she could be. So
instead of saying what he wished to say he talked of Mary Rose and
George Washington, and she listened and smiled and made holes in the
turf with her parasol, but never once did she speak of the conversation
she had had with Mary Rose which had caused her to throw down her
brushes and treat herself to a holiday.

Mary Rose's face was an incandescent light as, with a good-by pat for
the blackest pony, she ran back to them.

"I felt like a queen!" she cried. "It was splendid. Oh, won't you
have a ride?" She looked from one to the other. "I'll pay. I'm
making lots of money. You needn't worry another minute about George
Washington's board," she told Mr. Jerry. "It's as good as paid."

He laughed. "I won't worry and I shan't ride the ponies. My legs are
too long. I'd have to tie double knots in them to keep them off the
ground. But I'll take a turn on the merry-go-round with you." He
nodded toward that attractive circle of animals as it went around and
around to the accompaniment of the wheezy organ. "I dare you to come
with us." He looked straight at Miss Thorley.

"Oh, please!" Mary Rose clapped her hands. "You will, won't you, Miss
Thorley? You needn't be afraid," she whispered. "I'm sure he's strong
enough to hold you on."

Miss Thorley looked anything but afraid as she frowned at the
merry-go-round and at Mr. Jerry impartially. But when