you put two and two together you can't make much but
four out of the result."

"The old murderer!" scowled Mr. Jerry. "If that's true I'd like--I'd
like----"

"So would I!" Miss Thorley agreed with him heartily.

"Jim said something of the sort, but I told him he was crazy. He said
he was going up the fire escape and see if he couldn't find the bird in
Wells' flat, but I laughed at him. I didn't know the old man had
complained of Mary Rose. Of Mary Rose!" he repeated, as if he could
not understand how anyone could complain of Mary Rose. Mary Rose had
been a joy to him ever since he had looked up from his car and seen her
standing there in the boys' blue serge and with George Washington in
her arms.

Miss Thorley nodded. "I'd hate to think what this house would be
without her. She seems to have warmed it from the top to the basement.
Perhaps you won't understand when I say it's as if she had humanized
it. I'd hate to have it overrun with children!" hastily as she caught
the sudden flash of Mr. Jerry's eyes. "But Mary Rose--Mary Rose is
different."

"Why don't you tenants get up a petition of some kind? It wouldn't do
any harm to let the owner know that the rest of you are strong for the
Donovans and Mary Rose."

"No one knows who the owner is. All business is transacted through the
agents."

"The agents know," wisely. "It won't do any harm and it might do some
good. The complaints of one tenant won't weigh as much as the requests
of a dozen, believe me."

Miss Thorley drew her black brows together until they formed a line
across her white forehead.

"I believe you're right," she said after a pause. "I'll ask Mr.
Strahan to write one and we'll have all the tenants sign it. But that
won't bring back the canary," forlornly.

"No, it won't bring back the canary," he repeated. "We'll have to get
another pet for Mary Rose, one that she may have in the flat. No, not
a canary. That wouldn't do at all. But I thought perhaps some
goldfish. She loves to watch a couple Aunt Mary has. Once she
borrowed them."

"I know, for company for Mr. Wells when he was ill."

"Goldfish would give her something to think of until school opens.
After that she'll have enough to do to keep her occupied."

Miss Thorley looked at him with surprise. "Do you know, that's really
very thoughtful. I've been trying to think what I could do and I
couldn't get beyond another bird. I had sense enough to see that that
wo