"It's been a nice summer," she said slowly. "I don't know when I've had time go so fast. Young people in the house and outside do brighten things up amazingly. And Warren and Rich have made me so little trouble--I never knew two boys who needed less waiting on; yes, I've had a nice summer. I can say that." Warren's tanned face flushed a little and Richard stirred uneasily. Both recalled moments of impatience, fortunately suppressed, and remembered small kindnesses they might have easily performed. Poor Mrs. Hildreth, so utterly unable to take life easily, was something of a taskmaster like her husband. She prided herself on asking no more of anyone than she was willing to do herself and the result was nerves strung up to concert pitch and a volume of work turned out that was the wonder of a neighborhood famed for its industry. Warren and Richard felt guiltily that they might have made more positive contributions to her "nice summer," but they were thankful for the little they had done to lighten the good woman's labors. "How about you, Mother?" said Doctor Hugh mischievously. "I? Oh, I have learned to love Rainbow Hill," was Mrs. Willis' response. "I could ask no more of any summer than these weeks have given me--love and happiness and health. And to-morrow we're going home!" Rosemary smiled across the fire at her mother. She, too, liked to think of going home. "I only hope the smell of the paint will be out of the house," remarked Winnie who could never, under any circumstances, be accused of being sentimentally inclined. "And the gas stove," went on Winnie dreamily. "If that Greggs has been mixing messes on it and dropping his glue on the enamel, I'll give him a piece of my mind. I left that kitchen like wax and it's my hope to find it like that, but I have my doubts." Doctor Hugh laughed and put back a brand that slipped from the glowing embers. "Ah, Winnie, you know you can hardly wait to get to the straightening up part," he accused her. "You're already turning the rooms inside out in your mind's eye for a grand cleaning. I had thought of getting someone to come in and have it all in order for you and then I was afraid you might not like it so I changed my mind." "Hughie, if a strange person lays hand on a thing in that house," began Winnie solemnly and then she stopped as she saw the smiling face. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself to be teasing me," she scolded. "Shirley's asleep and so is Winnie," said Doctor Hugh suddenly. "I am not!" protested Shirley indignantly as usual. "Eh?" Winnie jerked her eyes open with a start. "For mercy's sake, do we have to stay out here all night?" she demanded crossly. "I can stand a picnic supper, if I have to, but it's no picnic for me to have to sleep out on damp grass."