downstairs. Luncheon is nearly ready."

"I can't yet," said Ruth. "Every time I start to leave her she cries,
and won't let me. Isn't it odd of the little creature? You two go on
down. I'll be with you as soon as I can."

Later that afternoon we continued the discussion that Ruth had
interrupted. Oliver didn't seem to be any more reconciled to the
arrangement than before.

"I hate to break the home all up," he objected. "I want to keep the
children together. Madge does, too. I should think there ought to be
some one who likes children, and who wants a home, who could come and
help me out for six months, who wouldn't cost too much."

"Hired help! No, no. Never works," Tom said, shaking his head.

"You have to be away so much on business, you know, Oliver," I reminded.

Suddenly Ruth spoke, picking up a magazine and opening it. "How would I
do, instead of the hired help, Oliver?" she asked, casually glancing at
an advertisement. "Becky didn't seem to mind me."

"You!" echoed Malcolm.

"Why, Ruth!" I exclaimed.

"What in the world do you mean?" demanded Edith.

"Oh, thanks," smiled Oliver kindly upon her. "Thanks, Ruth. It is bully
of you to offer, but, of course, I wouldn't think of such a thing."

"Why not?" she inquired calmly. "I could give you the entire summer. I'm
taking a two months' vacation this year."

"Oh, no, no. No, thanks, Ruth. Our apartment is, no vacation spot. I
assure you of that. Hot, noisy, one general housework girl. It certainly
is fine of you, but no, thanks, Ruth. Such a sacrifice is not
necessary."

"It wouldn't be a sacrifice," remarked Ruth, turning a page of the
magazine.

"Oh, come, come, Ruth!" broke in Tom irritably. "Let us not discuss such
an impossibility. We're wasting time. You have your duties. This is not
one of them. It's a fine impulse, generous. Oliver appreciates it. But
it's quite out of the question."

"I don't see why," Ruth pursued. "For an unattached woman to come and
take care of her brother's children during her vacation seems to me the
most natural thing in the world."

"You know nothing about children," snorted Tom.

"I can learn," Ruth persisted.

Ruth's offer proved to be no passing whim, no sentimental impulse of
the moment. Scarcely a week later, and she was actually installed in
Oliver's small apartment. The family talked of little else at their
various dinner-tables for weeks to come. Of all Ruth's vagaries this
seemed the vaguest and most