t good for
him, but I can't help it. I think you are right about his being too much
in earnest." Amy spoke laboriously; she evidently had some ulterior
purpose in view, more evident to Helen than she knew. With all the guile
that she could muster, Amy looked at Helen. "What is your work?"

Helen did not feel the pathos of what was passing before her eyes, she
only saw the absurdity of it.

"Oh, nothing much. I just keep the books. That's easy. Then I write
letters, and see that they are mailed, and for amusement, I have
arguments with Ralph Winston; he's the engineer, you know."

"Yes, I know Mr. Winston. I don't think much of him. He's rather
conceited, don't you think so?"

"Very."

"I am sure he is. My husband knows more about orange trees, and land,
and irrigation than anybody, and yet I have heard Mr. Winston contradict
him time and time again. My husband is very patient with him."

Again Helen felt an almost uncontrollable impulse to laughter.

"Ralph tries everyone's patience when he doesn't agree with them."

Amy felt that she was wandering from her purpose. She had a vague idea
of returning to it by a graceful transition, but one did not suggest
itself to her, and she dared temporize no further.

"Is book-keeping so very hard?" she asked.

"Not at all; it's just a little puzzling once in a while."

"Where did you learn?"

"At a business college. I took a regular course."

"I can't--that is--I--" Amy stumbled, her face flushed with confusion.
She had almost disclosed her purpose in so many words. "Really," she
continued, regaining her mental foothold, "I know nothing about such
things. Do you really have to go to college to learn book-keeping?"

"No, indeed." Helen was moved to pity. "Get 'A and B's elements,' any
book store has them; a little paper and pencil, a small journal, a cash
book and ledger. A little practice, and the thing is done."

Helen's face was smiling and imperturbable. A glance at it convinced Amy
that her purpose was undivined.

"Thank you. I have always been curious about such things." Then she grew
oblivious of Helen, more completely absorbed than she had ever been
before in her life. Her face flushed a delicate pink with the glow of
the resolution which had at last taken definite shape in her mind. It
was all so simple. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Helen was
watching her with a pitying smile on her lips, but the pity was for
Elijah, not for Amy. She recalled invo