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"Well, you certainly have things well fixed," said Ellen grudgingly "What easy little stairs! It's like child's play going up I suppose that's one consolation for having such a little playhouse affair to live in; you don't have to climb up far Well, we've come to stay two days if you want us Herbert said he could spare thatto stop in Thayerville on the way back and see his folks a couple of days; and that'll be a week Now, if you don't want us, say so, and we'll go on to-night It isn't as if we couldn't go e like, you know"

But Julia Cloud was genuinely glad to see her sister, and said so heartily enough to satisfy even so jealous a nature as Ellen's; and so presently they alking about the pretty roo in all the beauties of the home

"And this is your bedrooray roo in every little detail with an eye that would put it away for re afterwards "Well, they certainly have feathered your nest well!" she declared as her eyes rested on the luxury everywhere "Though I don't like that painted furniture ray enaht if that's the kind of thing you like Was it some of their old furniture from California?"

"Oh, no," said Julia Cloud quickly, the pretty flush coht new except a few little bits ofit, too Don't you like ain; but I didn't drea it in my room, it was so expensive It's real French enamel, you know, and happens to be a craze of fashion at present I thought it was ridiculous to buy it, but Leslie insisted that it was the only thing for ht it when I had my head turned"

"You don't say!" said Ellen Robinson, putting a hard, investigating finger on the foot-board "Well, it does seeht et 'em out and varnish 'em What's that out there, a porch?"

Julia Cloud led her out to the upper porch with its rush rugs,chairs, and table, and its stone wall croith bloo vines She showed her the bird's nest in the tree overhead