ld go to the door and find out what it means; but you! much you
care to save your mother's feet!" Gathering her ball of worsted with the
crocheting in her left hand, she swept out of the room and through the
hall to the front door. She pulled this open. There stood a man with
hammer in hand.

"No harm to ye's, marm," he said. "I's jist afther puttin' a bill on
ye's door; for shure it's to be sowld, that the house is."

"Sold!" cried Mrs. Lively. "When?"

"Faith! whiniver it may please a body to buy it," was the definite
reply.

Mrs. Lively read the bill: "'Six thousand dollars!' Why the whole
property isn't worth six thousand, much less the lease for twelve years.
Won't the owner take less?"

"It's more than likely he would, 'specially from the likes of ye's.
Shure! folks most ginerly wants all they kin git, and ef they can't git
it they'll be afther takin' less. The gintleman says as it must be sold
immadiate, for the owner is bruck to smitherations."

Here was prospective trouble. Mrs. Lively went down the doorsteps and
along the paved walk to her husband's office, in the front basement. The
doctor laid down his pen, expecting a patient, but, seeing that it was
only his wife, resumed it.

"There's a bill put up on our door: the house is for sale--six thousand
dollars. I'll warrant it could be got for five: I think it's worth six,
though. We may have to move out at a day's notice, and we've just had
this office newly papered, and the kitchen repainted, and, dear me! just
got those Brussels carpets down in the parlors. It's too provoking! I
know those carpets'll have to be cut and slashed into ribbons to make
them fit other rooms. I was afraid of that when I got them. Until you
own a house we oughtn't to get anything nice. But, oh dear! if I waited
till we owned a home, I should go down to my grave on a two-ply. But
where in the name of reason are we going? There isn't another vacant
house in this neighborhood that I'd live in. And just think of the
damage to your practice in moving your office! What are we going to do?
Why in the world don't you say something? Can't you suggest something?
One would think you hadn't any interest in the matter. But it's always
the way. I've had to do all the planning for this family ever since I
came into it, and I came into it before it was a family. Oh, you needn't
smile: I know you're thinking that I haven't given you a chance to say
anything; but I wouldn't talk if you'd talk