“That’s right!” said Carey with a sudden deep note in his voice that came from the heart, and gave Cornelia a bit of encouragement. “I think I could clean that suit up a little for you, and make it look better——” Carey looked down at himself doubtfully. “It’s pretty bad,” he said; “and it costs a lot to have it cleaned and pressed. I tried last week to do something, but we couldn’t find the irons.” “I found them yesterday,” said Cornelia brightly. “We’ll see what we can do this evening if you can be at home.” “Oh, this evening!” said Carey doubtfully. “Yes, we can’t spare the time till then, because this house has got to be put in order.” She gave him a swift, anxious glance and a winning smile. “If you have another engagement, break it for once. There’s so much to be done, dear, and we do need you terribly. Tell that Brand friend of yours that you’re busy for a few days, and you’ll make it up by inviting him to a fudge party when we get settled.” “Oh! Gee! Could we?” said Carey half doubtful, half pleased. “Well, all right! I’ll do my best. Now, what do you want done with this old junk?” “Those go in the back shed, over by the tubs. Take that out in the yard and burn it, and this pile goes upstairs. Just put it in the upper hall, and I’ll attend to it later. My! What a difference it makes to get a little space clear!” They worked steadily all the afternoon, Carey proving himself as willing as herself. They washed the windows and the floor, and swept down the walls of parlor and hall. “Ugly old wall-paper!” said Cornelia, eying it spitefully. “That’s got to come off if I have to do it myself and have bare walls.” “Why, that’s easy!” said Carey. “Give me an old rag!” and he began to slop the water on and scrape with an old caseknife. “Well, that’s delightful!” said Cornelia with relief. “I didn’t know it would be so easy; we’ll do a little at a time until it is done, and then we’ll either paper it ourselves or paint it. I do wish we could manage to get a fireplace.” “Well, maybe we can find some stone cheap where they’re hauling it away. Harry’ll know some place likely; he gets around with that grocery wagon. You know I helped a stone-mason last summer for a while. Mother hated it, though; so I quit; but I learned a lot about mixing cement and how to lay it on. I know about the draughts too. I bet I could make as good a fireplace as the next one. Gee! I wish I knew where to get some stone or brick.” “Stone would be best,” said Cornelia; “it would make a lovely chimney mantel, but I suppose you couldn’t be so elaborate as making a mantel!” “Sure, I could! But it would take some stone to do all that.” “I know where there’s a lot of stone!” They turned around surprised and there stood Harry in the doorway, with Louise just behind him, looking in with delighted faces at the newly cleaned room and the hard-working elder brother. “Where?” Carey wheeled around eagerly.