I will go and get into mine this
minute if you don't say you will go and ask her, in such a way that she
comes," she threatened.

Eileen hesitated a second and then said: "All right, since you make such
a point of it I will ask her."

"Very well," said Linda. "Then I'll help Katy the very best I can."

CHAPTER III. The House of Dreams

In less than an hour, Linda was in the kitchen, dressed in an old green
skirt and an orange blouse. Katy pinned one of her aprons on the girl
and told her that her first job was to set the table.

"And Miss Eileen has given most particular orders that I use the very
best of everything. Lay the table for four, and you are to be extremely
careful in serving not to spill the soup."

Linda stood very quietly for a second, her heavy black brows drawn
together in deep thought.

"When did Eileen issue these instructions?" she inquired.

"Not five minutes ago," said Katy. "She just left me kitchen and I'll
say I never saw her lookin' such a perfect picture. That new dress of
hers is the most becoming one she has ever had."

Almost unconsciously, Linda's hand reached to the front of her well-worn
blouse, and she glanced downward at her skirt and shoes.

"Um-hm," she said meditatively, "another new dress for Eileen, which
means that I will get nothing until next month's allowance comes in, if
I do then. The table set for four, which, interpreted, signifies that
she has asked Marian in such a way that Marian won't come. And the
caution as to care with the soup means that I am to serve my father's
table like a paid waitress. Katy, I have run for over three years on
Eileen's schedule, but this past year I am beginning to use my brains
and I am reaching the place of self-assertion. That programme won't do,
Katy. It's got to be completely revised. You just watch me and see how I
follow those instructions."

Then Linda marched out of the kitchen door and started across the lawn
in the direction of a big brown house dimly outlined through widely
spreading branches of ancient live oaks, palm, and bamboo thickets.
She entered the house without knocking and in the hall uttered a low
penetrating whistle. It was instantly answered from upstairs. Linda
began climbing, and met Marian at the top.

"Why, Marian," she cried, "I had no idea you were so far along. The
house is actually empty."

"Practically everything went yesterday," answered Marian. "Those things
of Father's and Mother's and my