rawing-room evenings. And no matter how nice they are--"

"That's the worst of that!" agreed Peter.

Jerry Tressady threw the Mail on the floor and sat up.

"Who's this coming up now, Molly?" he asked.

He had lowered his voice, because the white-clad young woman who was
coming composedly up the path between the sunflowers and the overloaded
rose-bushes was already within hearing distance. She was a heavy,
well-developed young person upon closer view, with light-lashed eyes of
a guileless, childlike blue, rosy cheeks, and a mass of bright, shining
hair, protected now only by a parasol. Through the embroidery insertion
of her fresh, stiff dress she showed glimpses of a snowy bosom, and
under her crisp skirt a ruffle of white petticoat and white-shod feet
were visible. She was panting from her walk and wiped her glowing face
with her handkerchief before she spoke.

"Howdy-do, folks?" said the new-comer, easily, dropping upon the steps
and fanning herself with the limp handkerchief. "I don't wonder you
keep a motor-car; it's something fierce walking down here! I could of
waited," she went on thoughtfully, "and had my brother brought me down
in the machine, but I hadn't no idea it was so far. I saw your ad in
the paper," she went on, addressing Mrs. Tressady directly, with a sort
of trusting simplicity that was rather pretty, "and I thought you might
like me for your girl."

"Well,--" began Molly, entirely at a loss, for until this second no
suspicion of the young woman's errand had occurred to her. She dared
not look at husband or guests; she fixed her eyes seriously upon the
would-be nurse.

"Of course I wouldn't work for everybody," said the new-comer hastily
and proudly. "I never worked before and mamma thinks I'm crazy to work
now, but I don't think that taking care of a child is anything to be
ashamed of!" The blue eyes flashed dramatically--she evidently enjoyed
this speech. "And what's more, I don't expect any one of my friends to
shun me or treat me any different because I'm a servant--that is, so
long as I act like a lady," she finished in a lower tone. A sound from
the hammock warned Mrs. Tressady; and suggesting in a somewhat unsteady
voice that they talk the matter over indoors, she led the new maid out
of sight.

For some twenty minutes the trio on the porch heard the steady rise and
fall of voices indoors; then Molly appeared and asked her husband in a
rather dissatisfied voice what he thought.

"W