"Oh what a pretty little room, and what a nice window!" "Yes, it is pleasant. Those trees are catalpas, and are lovely when in blossom. Well, child, make yourself comfortable, and I will send Hester to call you when your supper is ready." "Shall I wait on the table to-night?" asked Rhoda. "I would just as soon; I am not at all tired." "Yes, you may, if you choose. It will be half an hour to tea, so you will have time to change your dress." "Well, how do you like her?" asked Miss Hardy when Mrs. Hallowell returned. "Very much," was the reply. "She asked me whether she should not wait on the table to-night, and that looks well. But I must say she looks much more like taking Miss Davis's place in the school-room than Tilly's in the kitchen." "I think so myself, but we shall see. How could Miss Davis make such a blunder? I hardly ever let her send away a letter without looking it over, but I was very busy and it slipped my mind." "Well, as I said, it will be nice to have her here through the last two weeks—that is, if she takes hold well." "But what to do with her in vacation-time?" "We will see when the time comes. Maybe you can find her a place in town. I have a feeling that there is a providence in it." CHAPTER XV. _WHAT A BIT OF SOAP DID._ MRS. HALLOWELL was quite satisfied with Rhoda's way of "taking hold." Rhoda's work was to set and wait on the table, to take care of the dishes, to dust and once or twice a week to sweep the library and school-room, and to attend to the door. She found it very easy and not at all disagreeable; but all her philosophy could not prevent her eyes from filling sometimes, when she heard the girls practising or saw them tripping into the school-room with their books at the time of morning prayer. It was hard to dust and arrange the piano and organ and never touch the keys, but she had laid down a rigid rule for herself in that matter, and adhered to it. She did venture to ask for a book to read; and once, when Miss Hardy spoke to her in passing through the dining-room, she preferred another petition. "How do you like your place, Rhoda? Do you feel at home?" "Oh yes, ma'am; I like it very much." "Mrs. Marshall said you spoke about having something to read. Miss Adams has the charge of the books, and will let you have anything you like. Is there anything else?" "If you please, Miss Hardy, if I might come in to prayers," said Rhoda, with a little hesitation; "I generally have my work done by that time, and it would seem more like home." "Certainly you can come," said Miss Hardy. "I am glad you spoke of it." And thenceforth Rhoda joined the rest of the family at prayers, just as if—so Hetty said—she felt herself as good as anybody.