Dr. Maynard has stacks of money and since his mother died, lives all alone in the big, white-pillared house where he was born. Eliza, their old servant, takes care of him. "But," he explained to me, "cooking and cleaning are Eliza's strong points. Now there are lots of odds and ends she doesn't have time for. She never liked to sew, and I have a pretty hard time keeping socks mended, and linen, and towels, and such things in good condition. I hire a woman now by the day once in a while. But I'm sure I'm way behind now. If the scheme appeals to you at all, I'll have Eliza lay out a pile of stuff that needs a few stitches, and you can sew on it at odd moments. Just keep track of your time and I'll pay you--well, you seem to be a fairly busy person, I'll pay you double what I'm paying now which would be about fifty cents an hour." "Dr. Maynard," I said, "I think you're the very kindest man I ever knew!" "Oh, no," he broke in, "this is purely a business transaction." "But," I went on, "fifty cents is a lot too much. That would be giving me money." "Well, let it be understood," he said, "I'm not giving you anything. You're earning it in just as businesslike a manner as a stenographer--or Eliza. I'd like you to keep an accurate account of your time, please, and send me an itemised bill. I said fifty cents and I stick to it. Shall I come over to-morrow with your first relay?" I thanked Dr. Maynard with my whole heart. I was so relieved I didn't know what to do. "Would you mind," I said as he opened the front door for me, "waiting just a minute? I've a note upstairs that I wish you'd mail on your way home." I dashed up to my room, directed an envelope in mad haste to Oliver, and on a half-sheet of note-paper I scratched: "In spite of Alec's news I may be able to scare up some of the money. "BOBBIE." Alec had half a dozen letters for Dr. Maynard to mail also, and I had the satisfaction of laying my note to Oliver on top of the announcement which cut his allowance in half. After the door had closed and Alec and I were alone, I went and kissed my brother good-night. "Good-girl," he said wearily; "the ride brightened you up." "Yes," I replied; "and I know we're going to come out all right, Alec." And I felt that we should, now that I was going to put _my_ shoulder to the wheel. CHAPTER VIII