all the people she had known, in that the things he seemed to care most
about were never things for himself at all....

"So that's how it stands now," said Cally, presently. "My father was
naturally surprised at first, as I've never shown any interest in his
work before, and of course he said he wouldn't do it,--wouldn't take my
money, I mean, though it's really his all the time. But at last I did
get him to talking about it seriously, and then he grew more and more
interested.... Oh, I know he's going to do it! I _know_ it!--That's all
settled! And I do think he'll let me have a hand in really planning
it--that is, if I can show him that I--I know anything about it....
Well, of course I _don't_, you see--nothing, nothing!--and that's where
my problem begins. I've got to learn everything, from the very start,
and do it quickly.... Do you think I possibly can?--"

"_Books_!" he cried, throwing out both hands. "What're they for but to
teach us everything, _right away_?..."

In fact, her problem there was really no problem at all, it seemed. Pond
himself had at hand a fine little general library on all these subjects;
there was the State Library; there were the bookstores of the world: all
waiting for her, all packed with meaty information. Perhaps, just as a
starter, she would let him make out a sort of preliminary check-list
to-night, out of catalogues, out of some bully advertisements in the
backs of Pond's works....

"Oh, you _are_ nice!" exclaimed Cally. "You can't guess what it means
to be encouraged!... I do so want to go into it seriously."

He talked further, indicating the procedure: first her own idea of what
she wanted; then an architect to sketch some plans; then a builder to
figure after the architect. The thing began to shape up, rapidly,
definitely. She found him an inspiriting soul....

"I ought to say," she explained, quite excited, "that I mentioned fifty
thousand dollars only because that was the sum I happened to have, in a
lump. But we're going to make it _good_, no matter what it costs. I have
a little more money of my own," said she, "about eight thousand dollars,
and of course I'll put that in, too. And I know my father will feel the
same way."

But no, V.V.'s belief was that the sum she mentioned would be far more
than necessary. She could get a rough sort of estimate at once, if
desired, given the dimensions of the lot and a general idea of the style
of building she wanted. His friend, Jem