"But of course I don't believe it, Mother, it's just funny, that's all," explained Nancy, who had begun to carry the dishes to the kitchen quite as if she just loved to do it. According to their new schedule, both Ted and Nancy were expected to do their part in the clearing of the table, and washing the dishes, and as this was a beautiful summer evening, the children "fell to" very promptly. "It's too lovely to stay inside," remarked Nancy. "You'll come out with us, won't you Mother? There's heaps of things you haven't yet had a chance to see around here," she pleaded. "But we really must get things in order," declared the mother. "You and Ted hurry along with your work--Ted will dry and you wash tonight, Nancy, and meanwhile I'll sort of dig in--" "Mother! You can't. You have just got to have your evenings free," protested Nancy. "You need lots of fresh air out here--" "I know, dear, but after all we are just ordinary mortals and we must live as such. That means--civilization, around here," laughed Mrs. Brandon, who was already "digging in." "I'll put these pans away first." She paused. "Whatever is this? I do declare, children, here are your lost potatoes, packed away in among the empty pans. Now, who could have done that?" "Ted did," replied Nancy. "He was sorting the tins. But Mother," she said, in a grieved tone, "I know I did waste a lot of time today." Nancy was carrying out a tray but she had stopped abruptly. No punishment could be greater to her than the loss of a summer evening out of doors, except it was her mother's loss of that self-same evening. "I'm so sorry," she sighed. "I know I did idle my time today, Mother dear, but I can't bear to have you--pay for it." "Nonsense, dear, I don't mind. Really the exercise will do me good," insisted Mrs. Brandon. "Just attend to the dishes and you won't know these quarters presently. I'm glad we found the potatoes," she said, but Nancy was now too serious to joke. A call from the side porch checked their argument. It was Ruth calling to Nancy. "Come along!" she shrilled through the screen door. "There's going to be a band concert--" "Oh, I can't, Ruth," Nancy called back. "I must do--" "You _must_ go, dear," interrupted her mother. At this Ruth came in to wait. Ted was already off--he did not need to be coaxed to give up his task, and when dishes were not being washed surely they could not be dried. But Nancy felt guilty. In fact the band concert, novelty though it was, with firemen and a baseball team making up the "scrambled" programme, was not loud enough to still the voice of regret. "I can't bear to think of mother doing, now on this beautiful evening, what I should have done today," she confided to Ruth, as they waited between numbers. "I'll help you tomorrow," offered Ruth kindly. "And I won't bring Vera. She's rather critical--" "I'll be up at daybreak," resolved Nancy, really determined now to get the little country home in order.