awful--perfectly hideous. Make it so she
can't help but see we don't want her here. Make it a hint--and a
strong one too."

Delia folded her arms deliberately. "Well, whatever you want to act
like, Nan," she said, "I can tell you I ain't going to do anything
unladylike, so there!" and she stalked out of the room with dignity.

Nan surveyed the place in silence. What was to be done? If she
removed all the furniture but the bed and the bureau and left the
governess nothing to sit down on, it would only reflect discreditably
upon the family's supply of household goods. If she carefully sifted
back the dust Delia had just removed, it would merely prove that the
people in this house were of a slovenly and careless habit, and that
they were sadly in need of some one to oversee their work. Moreover,
would a person as dull of feeling as this governess must be, appreciate
the hint conveyed in so delicate and indirect a manner? No. She would
be sure to lose the point. Nan felt it would never do to take any risk
of her misunderstanding. Whatever she did must be unmistakable and
absolutely direct.

She racked her brain to discover just the right thing, but she was
rewarded by no brilliant idea, and she felt crosser than ever by the
time noon had arrived. But suddenly, at the luncheon table, she gave a
wild leap from her chair and clapped her hands frantically, while Delia
almost let a dish fall in her surprise at this sudden and unexpected
demonstration.

"For the land's sake, what is it now?" she demanded, while Nan caught
her around the waist and whirled her about the room, vegetable dish and
all.

"I've got it! I've got it!" screamed the girl, convulsed with inward
laughter. "I've got the best scheme in the world. Delia, you old
duck! Oh, won't it settle her though! Won't it settle her?" But she
would not reveal who was to be settled, nor how, though Delia pleaded
earnestly to be enlightened and even offered to help her make caramels
as a bribe.

"No, thank you, Ma'am! I wouldn't have time to boil 'em. I'm going to
be as busy as a beaver all the afternoon, so no matter what happens
don't you disturb me," continued Nan, importantly.

Delia shrewdly suspected that the scheme afoot had something to do with
the governess, but she did not dare suggest it.

"Oh, well, what I don't know I can't cry over," she said to herself,
"and when Nan's like this, all the king's horses and all the king's men
couldn't