ertain
naughty children cared more for a little fun than for her comfort."

Aunt Zelie spoke gravely, and her audience looked very much subdued.

In the course of the day Joanna, one of the maids, was sent over to
the Brown house to inquire about the things left by the children in
the garden. She returned with the missing articles, which had been
carried into the house by the man who cut the grass.

"Did you see anybody, Jo? Are there any children?" were the questions
she met with. But she had only seen a middle-aged woman who was
cleaning the hall, and had learned nothing about the new occupants.

"It is very stupid of Joanna," said Carl as he rolled up the rug and
the clothes-pins and marched over to apologize to Mrs. Ford for their
share of the mischief. He did this so meekly and with such evident
sincerity that the old lady was greatly mollified, and sent him up to
tell Ikey he might consider himself released from the day's
confinement in his room.

For the rest of the week the children were models of propriety. No one
would have dreamed that they had been outlaws so short a time before.

From the star chamber windows Robin and his merry men looked down on
the transformation which was taking place in their old domain.

The long grass was cut down, and with it those patches of pepper grass
that had seasoned many a feast. The bushes and vines were trimmed, the
walk was reddened, the shutters were thrown open. Every day added
something to the change, yet, besides the servants, no one had been
seen about the house.

Who could their new neighbors be? The subject was discussed morning,
noon, and night, till their father said he would have to tell them the
story of the man who made a fortune minding his own business. Uncle
William, who was there at the time, said that probably the man was too
stupid to enjoy his fortune after he made it, and he pretended to be
willing to go over and inquire at the door, if Louise would go with
him.

"At least we know there can't be any children," said Bess, "for they
couldn't stay in the house all the time."

"Please tell us the story about the man, Father," asked little Helen,
and couldn't understand why they all laughed.

CHAPTER III.

THE LADY OF THE BROWN HOUSE.

Bang! went the door, and away they rushed, like a small tornado,
across the porch, down the walk and over the street.

They seemed to be running away from Helen, for a second after they had
vanished b