"That doesn't seem the proper thing. But maybe she thought--I do suppose the child has had the best of everything." "I don't believe in pampering children. And I don't altogether like the woman. I do wonder if we will have to keep her. A girl of nine is old enough to look after herself, and begin to keep her own clothes and her room in order." "It's been very different out in India. And I do suppose Anthony was over-indulgent, she having no mother to train her." "We'll have our hands full, Eunice, when the tussle really begins." "Oh, I do not think she will be hard to manage. She seems rather shy----" "Those eyes of hers ain't so deep for nothing. She hasn't the Leverett mouth, and those full lips are wilful and saucy, generally speaking. Letty Orne was a pretty girl, as I remember. Strange, now, when you come to think of it, that the child should have been born in this house. But she'll never have any beauty to spare, that's certain. For the land sakes, Eunice, look at the time and you dawdling over the table. I'm tired as a dog after a long race." Elizabeth dropped into a chair. In her secret heart Eunice knew that when her sister was tired out she was fractious; she loved her too well to say cross words. "Shall we have fish or cold meat?" she asked mildly. "Oh, I don't care! Well, fish. There will be meat enough for to-morrow's dinner if it isn't meddled with." The fish was salted down in the season, soaked a little, laid in spiced vinegar for a few hours, cut in thin slices, and was very appetizing. Eunice went about with no useless flutter, she stepped lightly and never made any clatter with dishes. The tea china, thin and lovely, the piles of white bread and brown, molasses gingerbread and frosted sugar cake, stewed dried fruit and rich preserves, made an inviting-looking table. Chilian came in and made himself neat, as usual, then the guests. Cynthia was very quiet. Twice Miss Winn answered a question for her. She scarcely ate anything. Then she said wearily: "I am so tired and sleepy. Can't I go to bed?" CHAPTER IV UNWELCOME Miss Winn and her charge went down to the ship the next morning with Chilian Leverett. Elizabeth inspected the rooms. She was not meddlesome, nor over-curious generally, but with a feeling of possessorship and responsibility in the house, she wanted to know how far she could trust the newcomers. The beds were well made, but closets and drawers were rather awry. She did begrudge the best chamber, and wondered whether it would not be possible to change them about presently. True, they seldom had guests.