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"Oh, I don't know!" gasped Julia Cloud, looking around half frightened "I suppose I ought to ask Ellen She will be very ht to be told first"

Allison frowned

"Gee whiz! I don't see why Aunt Ellen has to butt into our affairs She's got her own home and fa her tell Grandlad ere gone back to California"

"That was because you hid behind the sofa when Uncle Herbert was courting her, and kidded theled Leslie

A stray little twinkle of a dimple peeped out by the corner of Julia Cloud's mouth It hadn't been out for a nuh at such pranks now; but it was so funny to think of Herbert Robinson being kidded in thein Leslie's eyes

"There! now you dear old Jewel, you know you don't want to talk to Aunt Ellen about us She'll just et 'em all fixed up, and then tell her when it's too late for her to led Leslie down close to Julia's ear, finishing up with a delicious bear-hug

"I suppose she'll be mortally offended," murmured Julia Cloud in troubled hesitancy

"Well, suppose she is; she'll get over it, won't she?" growled Allison "And anyhow you're old enough to uess you're older than she is, aren't you? I guess you've got a right to do as you please, haven't you? And you do want to go with us, don't you?" His voice was anxious

"I certainly do, dear boy," said Julia Cloud eagerly; "but you know your guardian ' aunt I a you to sit up late and talk fairy stories all the time"

They smothered her in kisses, compliments, and assurances; and it was soain to the i

"You don't have to do anything to the house but just shut it up, do you?" asked Allison, looking anxiously about in a helpless,to work"

"There's a e that wanted to rent a house here," said Julia Cloud thoughtfully "I ht write a letter to hi or not He's the new superintendent of the high school But it's tiot dressed and had breakfast"