the
children would break in to tell something about the other or to praise
their dear Cloudy Jewel for her part in everything.

The next day they took him everywhere and showed him everything about
the college and the place, introduced him to their favorite
professors, at least those who were not already gone on their
vacations, and took him for a long drive past their favorite haunts.
Then he had to meet Jane Bristol and Howard Letchworth. Julia Cloud
was greatly relieved and delighted when he set his approval upon both
these young people as suitable friends for the children.

"They are both poor and earning their own living," said Julia Cloud,
feeling that in view of the future and what it might contain she
wanted to be entirely honest, that the weight of responsibility should
not rest too heavily upon her.

"All the better for that, no doubt," said Guardy Lud thoughtfully,
watching Jane Bristol's sweet smile as she talked over some committee
plans with Allison. "I should say they were about as wholesome a
couple of young people as could be found to match your two. Just keep
'em to that kind for a year or two more, and they'll choose that kind
for life. I'm entirely satisfied with the work you're doing, Miss
Cloud. I couldn't have found a better mother for 'em if I'd searched
heaven, I'm sure."

And so Julia Cloud was well content to go on with her beloved work as
home-maker.

But the day after Guardy Lud left, just as the three were sitting
together over a great State map of roads, perfecting their plans for a
wonderful vacation, which was to include a brief visit to Ellen
Robinson at Sterling, a noisy Ford drew up at the door, and there was
Ellen Robinson herself, with the entire family done up in linen
dust-coats and peering curiously, half contemptuously, at the strange
pink-and-white architecture of the many-windowed "villa."

Allison arose and went down the terrace to do the honors, showing his
uncle where to drive in and put his car in the little garage, helping
his aunt and the little cousins to alight.

"For mercy's sake, Julia, what a queer house you've got!" said Ellen
the minute she arrived, gazing disapprovingly at the many windows and
the brick terrace. "I should think 'twould take all your time to keep
clean. What's the idea in making a sidewalk of your front porch? Looks
as if some crazy person had built it. Couldn't you find anything
better than this in the town? I saw some real pretty frame