nusual color in
his brown cheeks, a reproachful look in his eye.

Miss Thorley's face had more color than usual, also, as she bowed
coldly, but Mary Rose flew to take his hand.

"I'm so glad you came back. We saw you drive away but we had to come
now for Miss Thorley's going to be so awfully busy that she couldn't
come for weeks and weeks."

"Is she?" Mr. Jerry looked oddly at Miss Thorley, but Miss Thorley
refused to look at him. "The best laid plans of mice and men," he said
meaningly and paused until Mary Rose squeezed his hand.

"Are you telling her about George Washington?" she whispered.

He laughed and after a moment a faint smile lifted the corners of Miss
Thorley's lips. Mr. Jerry drew a sigh of relief and sat down.

"That's better," he said. "No, Mary Rose, I was not just then
referring to George Washington, but I can assure you that he is
untiringly on the job. He brought a dead mouse to me at six o'clock
this morning. At six o'clock!" impressively. "I thought I had the
nightmare when I opened my eyes and saw old George standing there with
a mouse in his mouth. He's working overtime. He should take a rest.
He'll injure his health if he attends too strictly to business, Mary
Rose."

"I know." Mary Rose nodded a wise head. "Too much work doesn't make
good red blood. Aunt Kate was just telling us, wasn't she, Miss
Thorley, that all the money you make won't buy good times nor red
blood. She was telling us that very thing not ten minutes ago." Mary
Rose was overjoyed to hear Mr. Jerry confirm what Aunt Kate had said.
Now, of course, Miss Thorley would have to believe that it was true.

"Your Aunt Kate is a very wise, wise woman. It's a pity others can't
see it." He sighed and looked at Miss Thorley, who stroked George
Washington's gray overcoat and refused to lift her eyes to meet his.

"If they could they'd have old heads on young shoulders, perhaps,"
suggested Mary Rose. "You wouldn't like that, would you? Just suppose
Mrs. Schuneman's head was on Miss Thorley's shoulders. How would you
like that?"

"I shouldn't like it at all. I shouldn't want any head on Miss
Thorley's shoulders but her very own. It suits me there--perfectly."
Mr. Jerry eyed Miss Thorley rather critically and screwed his eyes half
shut as Miss Thorley did when she was looking at the model she was
painting, and his voice was as firm as a voice could be. "Even to have
her as wise as your Aunt Kate I shouldn't w