or Eileen's reply: "That
scarf always was too brilliant for me. You're welcome to it if you want
it."

"Thank you," said Linda gravely, "I want it very much indeed."

CHAPTER XI. Assisting Providence

Linda went to the library to see to what state of emptiness it had been
reduced by the removal of several pieces of furniture she had ordered
taken away that day. As she stood on the threshold looking over the
room as usual, a throb of loving appreciation of Katy swept through her
heart. Katy had been there before her. The room had been freshly
swept and dusted, the rugs had been relaid, the furniture rearranged
skilfully, and the table stood at the best angle to be lighted either
by day or night. On the table and the mantel stood big bowls of lovely
fresh flowers. Linda was quite certain that anyone entering the room for
the first time would have felt it completely furnished, and she doubted
if even Marian would notice the missing pieces. Cheered in her heart,
she ran up to the billiard room, and there again Katy had preceded
her. The windows were shining. The walls and floor had been cleaned.
Everything was in readiness for the new furniture. Her heart full of
gratitude, Linda went to her room, prepared her lessons for the next
day, and then drew out her writing materials to answer Marian's letter.
She wrote:

I have an acute attack of enlargement of the heart. So many things
have happened since your leaving. But first I must tell you about your
sketch. We just know you did not leave it here. Katy says there was not
a scrap in our bedroom when she cleaned it; and as she knows you make
plans and how precious they are to you, I guarantee she would have saved
it if she had found anything looking like a parallelogram on a piece of
paper. And I have very nearly combed the lawn, not only the north side,
but the west, south, and east; and then I broke the laws and went over
to your house and crawled through a basement window and worked my way
up, and I have hunted every room in it, but there is nothing there. You
must have lost that sketch after you reached San Francisco. I hope to
all that's peaceful you did not lay it down in the offices of Nicholson
and Snow, or where you take your lessons. I know nothing about
architecture, but I do know something about comfort in a home, and I
thought that was the most comfortable and convenient-looking house I
ever had seen.

Now I'll go on and tell you all the news, and I don't