mistress. Sometimes, just as evening comes on, I think it must dream of the light feet and gentle hands it has known so many years ago, and feels its loneliness more than ever.”
“Poor old house!” said Lisbeth softly.
“Yes, a house is very human, Lisbeth, especially an old one, and feels the need of that loving care which only a woman can bestow, just as we do ourselves.”
“Dear old house 1” said Lisbeth, more softly than before.
“How much longer must it wait - when will you come and care for it, Lisbeth?”
She started, and I thought her cheeks seemed a trifle pinker than usual as her eyes met mine.
“Dick,” she said wistfully, “I do wish you would get the ladder; it’s horribly uncomfortable to sit in a tree for hours and - “
“First of all, Lisbeth, you will forgive the Imp - full and freely, won’t you?”
“He shall go to bed without any tea whatever.”
“That will be rank cruelty, Lisbeth; remember he is a growing boy.”
“And I have been perched up here - between heaven and earth - all the afternoon.”
“Then why not come down?” I inquired.
“If you will only get the ladder - “
“If you will just put your right foot in my - “
“I won’t!” said Lisbeth.
“As you please,” I nodded, and sitting down, mechanically took out my pipe and began to fill it, while she opened her book, frowning. And after she had read very studiously for perhaps two minutes, she drew out and consulted her watch. I did the same.
“A quarter to five!” I said.
Lisbeth glanced down at me with the air of one who is deliberating upon two courses of action, and when at length she spoke, every trace of irritation had vanished completely.
“Dick, I’m awfully hungry.”
“So am I,” I nodded.
“It would be nice to have tea here under the trees, wouldn’t it?”
“It would be positively idyllic!” I said.
“Then if you will please find that ladder - “
“If you will promise to forgive the Imp - “
“Certainly not!” she retorted.
“So be it!” I sighed, and sat down again. As I did so she launched her book at me.
“Beast!” she exclaimed.
“Which means that you are ready to descend?” I inquired, rising and depositing the maltreated volume side by side with my pipe on a rustic table near-by; “very good. Place your right foot in - “
“Oh, all right,” she said quite pettishly, and next moment I had her in my arms.
“Dick! put me down-at once!”
“One moment, Lisbeth; that boy is a growing boy - “
“And shall go to bed without any tea!” she broke in.
“Very well, then,” I said, and reading the purpose in my eyes, she attempted, quite vainly, to turn her head aside.
“You will find it quite useless to struggle, Lisbeth,” I warned. “Your only course is to remember that he is a growing boy.”
“And you are a brute!” she cried.
“Undoubtedly,” I answered, bending my head nearer her petulant lips.
“But think of the Imp in bed, lying there, sleepless, tealess, and growing all the while as fast as he can.”
Lisbeth surrendered, of course, but my triumph was greatly tempered with disappointment.
“You will then forgive him for the ‘ambushes’ and cherish him with much tea?” I stipulated, winking away a tress of hair that tickled most provokingly.
“Yes,” said Lisbeth.
“And no bed until the usual hour?”
“No,” she answered, quite subdued; “and now please do put me down.” So I sighed and perforce obeyed.
She stood for a moment patting her rebellious hair into order with deft, white fingers, looking up at me meanwhile with a laugh in her eyes that seemed almost a challenge. I took a hasty step toward her, but as I did so the Imp hove into view, and the opportunity was lost.
“Hallo, Auntie Lisbeth!” he exclaimed, eyeing her wonderingly; then his glance wandered round as if in quest of
