esponsibility of any sort did not sit comfortably on them.

"One has to sometimes, you know. But is that all you wanted to tell me?"
added Rose, anxious to turn the conversation from herself.

"Oh, dear, no! The most serious thing of all is this. Steve is putting
himself in order generally, and so I want to do my part, and I must
begin right away before my thoughts get distracted with clothes and all
sorts of dear, delightful, frivolous things that I can't help liking.
Now I wish you'd tell me where to begin. Shouldn't I improve my mind
by reading something solid?" And Kitty looked over at the well-filled
bookcase as if to see if it contained anything large and dry enough to
be considered "solid."

"It would be an excellent plan, and we'll look up something. What do you
feel as if you needed most?"

"A little of everything I should say, for when I look into my mind there
really doesn't seem to be much there but odds and ends, and yet I'm sure
I've read a great deal more than some girls do. I suppose novels don't
count, though, and are of no use, for, goodness knows, the people and
things they describe aren't a bit like the real ones."

"Some novels are very useful and do as much good as sermons, I've heard
Uncle say, because they not only describe truly, but teach so pleasantly
that people like to learn in that way," said Rose, who knew the sort of
books Kitty had read and did not wonder that she felt rather astray when
she tried to guide herself by their teaching.

"You pick me out some of the right kind, and I'll apply my mind to
them. Then I ought to have some 'serious views' and 'methods' and
'principles.' Steve said 'principles,' good firm ones, you know."
And Kitty gave a little pull at the bit of cambric she was cutting as
housewives pull cotton or calico when they want "a good firm article."

Rose could not help laughing now, though much pleased, for Kitty was so
prettily in earnest, and yet so perfectly ignorant how to begin on the
self-improvement she very much needed, that it was pathetic as well as
comical to see and hear her.

"You certainly want some of those, and must begin at once to get them,
but Aunt Jessie can help you there better than I can, or Aunt Jane, for
she has very 'firm' ones, I assure you," said Rose, sobering down as
quickly as possible.

"Mercy on us! I should never dare to say a word about it to Mrs. Mac,
for I'm dreadfully afraid of her, she is so stern, and how I'm ever to
ge