Joyce smiled sorrowfully: “That would be too late. I’ve got to have a place within a few minutes now or I’ll lose the house. The man said they couldn’t wait but an hour and ten minutes and I must have used up more than three-quarters of it now. I’d love to stay and help you, and if I can possibly get through what I have to do I’ll come back and help you. Perhaps I could get here in time to wait on the table if you’d like me. I wouldn’t want any pay. I feel as if I owed you something. But I just can’t stay now. I must save this little house. It’s the only place I could ever hope to have for a home that I could afford, and I’ve really bought it, so I _must_ find a place to put it.” “For pity’s sake! Bought a house and must have a place to put it right away. Why, I never heard of anything so unreasonable. Couldn’t you buy the land it was on? Where is it?” “No, the man wants to clear his land. When I came on them they were breaking it up into kindling wood, and it’s the dearest little place, just big enough for one. It’s about four blocks away from here on the edge of a big place.” “Oh! The Land Office. That _is_ pretty. Yes, I heard some one had bought that old house and was going to fix it up. Why--but that’s not a house. It’s only a room. That wouldn’t take up much room. I should think most anybody would be willing to let you have enough land for that. If that’s all maybe papa wouldn’t mind. He wouldn’t sell any land but he might rent it.” “Oh,” said Joyce clasping her hands eagerly, “Where can I find him? I’ll go right away. Perhaps I’ll be in time if I hurry.” “Why, no, you can’t find him anywhere. He’s gone to the city. He won’t be home till the folks come. He went to meet them. But if you’re in such a hurry as all that I suppose you could bring your house here for the night anyway, and then we could see about it tomorrow. About how much were you figuring to pay? Could you pay as much as a dollar a week?” “Oh, I think so,” said Joyce relieved, “I’m expecting to get a position right away.” “Well, you can bring it here tonight and if it doesn’t look too much in the way we’ll try it. Our missionary society is getting up a fund to get some chime bells for our church, and each one of us has to earn some extra money some way. If I choose to earn mine by giving up a piece of the back yard my husband won’t object. The house is really mine anyway. You can come and try it and we won’t promise anything on either side till we see how it goes. Now. Can’t you hurry right back and help me. I’m almost distracted with all there is to do, and I’m all shaken up with that fire and all.”