nd coughed before he answered. "No, I haven't
heard anything."

"If you see him today will you tell him of that friendly house I was
telling you about? That there are flat-houses in Waloo where children
can live? It might make him willing to let them live in his house.
And please!" she clung to his hand, "please tell him that I'm growing
older every single day I live!"

CHAPTER XXVI

That very afternoon Mr. Jerry and Mary Rose bought a canary for Becky
and paid for it with the five-dollar bill that Mr. Wells had given Mary
Rose. Mr. Jerry insisted that that particular bill should have been
framed and Mary Rose insisted that Mr. Wells had said it was to buy a
canary. She could not understand why Mr. Jerry had laughed nor why he
said: "Oh, very well. But honestly, Mary Rose, it should be framed."

He took Mary Rose and the new canary in his car to the flat-building
that allowed children to live in it. Becky wept with joy when she was
told that the bird was to be her own. John was at home and he blushed
and stammered as he tried to explain to Mr. Jerry that he hadn't meant
any harm to anyone, cross his heart if he had! but as soon as he saw
Jenny Lind he had thought what company she would be for Becky. And Mr.
Jerry kindly said he understood perfectly and that if John ever wanted
any advice or help he was to come straight to him.

"You see it's a very friendly house," Mary Rose whispered as she and
Mr. Jerry went down the long flights of stairs. "See how many children
there are!"

Mr. Jerry looked about him. There were, indeed, many children of
assorted nationalities and sizes. There could not have been a greater
contrast to the orderly and clean, if childless, Washington.

"It's undoubtedly friendly, Mary Rose," agreed Mr. Jerry. "And there
are lots of children but there are also lots of smells."

She crinkled her small nose. "I expect that's Russian," she suggested.

On their way home they passed Bingham and Henderson's big jam factory
and Mary Rose caught a glimpse of Miss Thorley waiting for a street
car. When she called Mr. Jerry's attention to the enchanted princess
he deftly inserted his automobile between Miss Thorley and the
approaching car.

"Room for one more passenger here," he said with a grin. "And the fare
will be even cheaper."

"Do come with us, Miss Thorley!" begged Mary Rose. "See, here's Jenny
Lind. You'll want to speak to her. And there's such lots of room
right h