and they quarrelled, probably."

"Why, no, dear; I didn't see anything unusual," murmured the elder lady.

"Well, I did. And I'm going to be the fairy godmother that straightens
everything all out, too. See if I'm not! They'd make a splendid couple,
Aunt Hannah. I'm going right down there to-morrow."

"Billy, my dear!" exclaimed the more conservative old lady, "aren't
you taking things a little too much for granted? Maybe they don't wish
for--for a fairy godmother!"

"Oh, _they_ won't know I'm a fairy godmother--not one of them; and of
course I wouldn't mention even a hint to anybody," laughed Billy. "I'm
just going down to get acquainted with the Greggorys; that's all. Only
think, Aunt Hannah, what they must have suffered! And look at the place
they're living in now--gentlewomen like them!"

"Yes, yes, poor things, poor things!" sighed Aunt Hannah.

"I hope I'll find out that she's really good--at teaching, I mean--the
daughter," resumed Billy, after a moment's pause. "If she is, there's
one thing I can do to help, anyhow. I can get some of Marie's old pupils
for her. I _know_ some of them haven't begun with a new teacher, yet;
and Mrs. Carleton told me last Friday that neither she nor her sister
was at all satisfied with the one their girls _have_ taken. They'd
change, I know, in a minute, at my recommendation--that is, of course,
if I can _give_ the recommendation," continued Billy, with a troubled
frown. "Anyhow, I'm going down to begin operations to-morrow."

CHAPTER XXI. A MATTER OF STRAIGHT BUSINESS

True to her assertion, Billy went down to the Greggorys' the next day.
This time she did not take Rosa with her. Even Aunt Hannah conceded that
it would not be necessary. She had not been gone ten minutes, however,
when the telephone bell rang, and Rosa came to say that Mr. Bertram
Henshaw wanted to speak with Mrs. Stetson.

"Rosa says that Billy's not there," called Bertram's aggrieved voice,
when Aunt Hannah had said, "Good morning, my boy."

"Dear me, no, Bertram. She's in a fever of excitement this morning.
She'll probably tell you all about it when you come out here to-night.
You _are_ coming out to-night, aren't you?"

"Yes; oh, yes! But what is it? Where's she gone?"

Aunt Hannah laughed softly.

"Well, she's gone down to the Greggorys'."

"The Greggorys'! What--again?"

"Oh, you might as well get used to it, Bertram," bantered Aunt Hannah,
"for there'll be a good many 'agains,' I fan