as easy--easier, in fact, to get help if we
needed it there, than here; for the McKittrick house is on the side of
the mountain overlooking the town, while our place is hidden from the
rest of Silver Bow by that hill. We can see only the roof of the
assayer's office from here, and that is the nearest building to ours
except Carrie's house."

"That's true!" exclaimed Gloriana with such an air of relief that Mr.
Catt could not refrain from smiling.

"And besides, nothing is going to happen in two weeks," continued
Tabitha.

"Suppose Miss Davis doesn't return in two weeks? I thought you wanted
to spend your summer at the beach."

"Oh, Miss Davis will be back on time," was the confident reply. "And
we had planned to stay here a few weeks anyway, you know. Myra won't
be looking for us before the first of July, for we had expected Tom
would come home early in the summer for his vacation instead of having
to wait until fall, and so made our plans accordingly."

He smiled at the grown-up air she had assumed, then sighed, for
something in her quiet self-assurance and dignified poise suddenly
brought home to him the realization that his little girl was fast
growing up. The sensitive, rebellious, little spitfire of a few months
ago had developed into a charming, gentle-mannered maid; and while he
rejoiced in gaining so sweet a daughter, he disliked to lose the wild,
untamed elf who had so suddenly blossomed into a young lady before he
could in any measure atone for the unhappy years of her loveless
childhood. He would have kept her a little girl all her life, had he
been able; but here she was springing up into the beauty of a glorious
womanhood before his very eyes. So he sighed as he thought of his lost
opportunities, then abruptly asked, "How old are you, Tabitha?"

"Going on sixteen, daddy."

"And you, my other daughter?" turning to Gloriana sitting silently on
her low stool by his side.

"Fourteen, sir."

"Rather youthful housekeepers," he drawled, teasingly.

"But experienced in spite of youth," Tabitha gayly retorted. "Why,
Miss King says we are the two most promising domestic science pupils
she has. Now what do you think of that?"

"That she is right," came the prompt though unexpected reply; "and if
you really think you want to play Good Samaritan for a couple weeks,
you have my hearty sanction. The fact of the matter is, I find it
impossible to be here at home much for the next fortnight, myself;