"'Lord Ronald had the lily-white dough--'

(to my way o' thinkin' it's no matter about the color, white or gold or
just plain, green paper-money, so long's you've _got_ it), anyhow,
that's what it said in the piece--

"'Lord Ronald had the lily-white dough,
Which he gave to his cousin, Lady Clare.'

Say, wasn't he generous?--'give to his cousin--Lady Clare'--an'--good
gracious! O, excuse me! I didn't mean to jolt your tray like that, but I
just couldn't help flyin' up, for I got an idea! True as you live, I got
an idea!"




CHAPTER IV


It did not take long, once Claire was fairly on her feet again, to
adjust herself to her new surroundings, to find her place and part in
the social economy of the little family-group where she was never for a
moment made to feel an alien. She appropriated a share in the work of
the household at once, insisting, to Martha's dismay, upon lending a
hand mornings with the older children, who were to be got off to school,
and with the three-year-old Sabina, who was to stay at home. She
assisted with the breakfast preparations, and then, when the busy swarm
had flown for the day, she "turned to," to Ma's delight, and got the