washstand, bureau, table and--a
place for the boy or girl's things."

"Things?" Levi was again bending over the blue print.

"Yes, sir. Things dear to each child's heart. Stones, sticks,
anything that cannot be--explained." Sandy gave a low laugh. He was
harking back to the old shed beside his father's cabin and the gay
prints tacked to the worm-eaten boards.

"The separate rooms can stand, son, and those little jimcracks of
drawers are favourably passed on, too. And these?" Levi's thick
forefinger stopped at the elevation of the first floor.

Sandy gave a rich, satisfied laugh of content.

"Well, sir, it is this-er-way"--The Hollow's soft running of the words
together delighted Levi's ear--"when the poor little creatures have had
their fight out on the upper floor and have got down to these small
rooms and have realized that they are human beings, then we're going to
fix them--fix them, sir, right here!" Sandy's eyes flashed and his jaw
set in the stern, grim fashion that Levi had long since grown to watch
for and admire.

"By the time they reach the ground floor, sir, I reckon we can tackle
them and begin to make them pay for themselves. By that time they will
have something to draw on and we'll exact payment. Right here and
here"--Sandy's forefinger was going rapidly from point to point, and
Levi's stubby digit was laboriously following--"are the workshops, the
school rooms, the kitchens and conservatories. Why, sir, even the
idiot children can be utilized. They love flowers and animals; we must
find their one gleam and guide their poor feet on the way. Good food,
honest hours of work, systematic exercise and proper amusement--why,
sir, from this ground floor we are to send men and women out into the
world who will reflect credit on Lost Hollow and redeem its name. And
you, sir----"

The two men faced each other suddenly. Markham seemed to realize anew
the delicacy and fineness of the thin, brown face---Matilda's words
rang in his ears, "he looks real pinched and peaked." The homely
phrase carried more weight to Markham than any scientific terms of a
specialist. A sharp pain shot through his heart; he had the quick
impulse to shield and protect this young fellow who was being carried
afield on the wings of his enthusiasm. Protect him from what?

"See here, son, we cannot afford to go too fast with this hobby of
yours. Get the buildings up as soon as you can; carry out all the
material pla