Nan, her eyes clouding. "That's because of my last
fortnightly report. I know I fell behind in history and rhetoric."

"Don't be too hard on us, Papa Sherwood," said Momsey brightly.
"Anticipation is more than half of every pleasure. I lie awake every
night and spend this great fortune of ours to the very last penny."

"Of course," the little lady added, with more gravity, "I wouldn't
really spend fifty thousand dollars so recklessly as I do in my mind.
But I can found schools, and hospitals, and educate Nan, and give you,
Papa Sherwood, a great big business, and buy two automobiles, and-----"

"Enough! Enough!" cried Mr. Sherwood, in mock seriousness. "You are a
born spendthrift, Momsey. That you have had no chance to really be one
thus far will only make your case more serious when you have this legacy
in your possession. Two automobiles, no less!"

"But I want you both, my dears, to bear one very important fact in mind.
Roughly estimated the fortune is ten thousand pounds. To be exact, it
may be a good deal less at the start. Then, after the lawyers and the
courts get through with the will and all, the remainder that dribbles
into your pocket, Momsey, may be a very small part of ten thousand
pounds."

"Oh, how horrid, Papa Sherwood!" cried Nan. "We won't listen to him,
will we, Momsey?"

"Oh, yes we will," her mother said quietly, but smiling. "But we will
still believe that the world is good and that God has given us great
good fortune. Papa talks very sensibly; but I know that there is nothing
to fear. We are going to be very well off for the rest of our lives, and
I cannot be thankful enough for it."

At that Mr. Sherwood literally threw up his hands. "Nevertheless,"
he said, "I expect to go to Chicago next Monday, to begin work in the
machine shop. The boss writes me that I can come at that time."

"I will get your clothes ready for you, Robert," said Momsey calmly.
"Perhaps you will feel better in your mind if you keep busy during this
time of waiting."

Chapter VIII. TWO IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS

It happened, however, that Mr. Sherwood did not go to Chicago to work in
the machine shop. Something happened before the week was out, that quite
put his intention aside.

Indeed, Nan declared that two important happenings just then changed the
current of affairs at the little cottage on Amity Street and that she
had a principal part in the action of the first of these unexpected
happenings.

It was love