and looked so
long at that calico curtain.

"We'll try 'Granny's Quilting' again next Saturday," said Aunt Vi.

They did try it again. There were no caves to dig this time, and young
Master "Ezekiel Whalen" was on the stage promptly at half-past one,
eager to show his grandparents that he was a boy to be relied upon after
all. The play was a remarkable success. All the "summer boarders and
campers" came to it, and everybody said:--

"Oh, do give us some more entertainments, Mrs. Sanford! Let us have one
every Saturday."

Aunt Vi, being the kindest soul in the world, promised to do what she
could. She gave the play of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin," with children
for rats; and Eddo was dressed as a mouse, and squealed so perfectly
that Edith's cat could hardly be restrained from rushing headlong upon
the stage.

Later there were tableaux. Edith wore red, white, and blue and was the
Goddess of Liberty. Jimmy was a cowboy with cartridge-belt and pistols.
Lucy and Barbara were Night and Morning, with stars on their heads. Mr.
Sanford was Uncle Jonathan. Mr. Hale was an Indian chief.

Jimmy's debts were more than paid, and a happier boy was not to be found
in the state of California.

After this there were plenty of free entertainments on the tailings. At
one of these, when the audience was watching a flight of rockets,
Katharine heard two women not far away talking together. One of them
asked:--

"Where's that little Dunlee girl, the one that keeps the play-school?"

"Over there in the corner," replied the other, "She hasn't any hat on.
She's sitting beside the girl with a cat in her lap."

"Oh, is that the one? So young as that? Well, she's a good girl, yes,
she is. I guess she _is_ a good girl," said the first speaker heartily.
"My little Henry thinks there's nothing like her. He never learned much
of anything till he went to that play-school. He never behaved so well
as he does now, never gave me so little trouble at home. She's a _good_
girl."

A world of comfort fell on Kyzie. Young as she was and full of faults,
she had really done a wee bit of good.

"And they didn't say a word about my jumping out of the window," thought
she, with deep satisfaction. "Wait till I grow up, just wait till I grow
up, and as true as I live I'll be something and do something in this
world!"

She did not say this aloud, you may be sure; but there was a look on her
face of high resolve.

Uncle James had often said to Aunt Vi