s
doesn't show so."

"There's no little hands to clutter things up," said Mrs. Reynolds, but
her voice wasn't glad.

Suzanna, intuitively sensing the real trouble, said: "Reynolds slammed
the door this morning, Mrs. Reynolds. We heard the slam in our
dining-room and my mother jumped." Suzanna quite innocently borrowed
Mrs. Reynolds' way of referring to her husband.

Mrs. Reynolds' face darkened. "Yes, I know he did. That man is getting
more like a bear every day."

"He liked our twin that went away, Mrs. Reynolds. He wasn't like a bear
when he played with her."

At this statement Mrs. Reynolds suddenly threw her apron over her head
and sobbed: "That's just it, Suzanna, that's just it; there aren't any
little cluttering fingers about."

Suzanna set the vinegar cup carefully down on the table, the while her
keenly sensitive mind worked rapidly. Those gifts which by dint of their
frequency in her own home seemed rather overdone were actually missed
here! A strong, deep sympathy for Mrs. Reynolds' disappointment grew
within her, but did not entirely crowd out the thought that through this
very disappointment her own burning desire might be brought to pass. She
now went swiftly and touched the weeping woman.

"Mrs. Reynolds," she began, "will you tell me how you feel about
cutting pink goods away from under lace. Can you afford to do that?"

Mrs. Reynolds' apron came down with a jerk, and for a second she stared
her perplexity at the upturned, earnest little face. Then with quick
understanding which revealed her real mother-spirit, she answered: "Why
land, Honey-Girl, Reynolds makes pretty good money at times. I guess we
can do about as we please in most simple ways."

"Well, then, keep your apron down," advised Suzanna; "and just think
this thought over and over: 'Reynolds is not going to be cross any
more!' Thank you again for the vinegar, I must be going now."

It was not without misgiving that Suzanna started immediately to put her
secret plan into execution. And her judicious side urged the completion
of all details before she said anything to those most nearly concerned
in her new move. Only to Maizie, whose constant attendance she
skillfully managed to elude while she made her simple preparations, did
she at last give any confidence, and it was in this manner she spoke:

"There's going to be a great change, Maizie; and tonight you must manage
to stay awake to do something for me."

Maizie, at once inter