Ella's figure relaxed with a look of surprise.

"Oh, ja?" she murmured, as if dazed.

"Yes--come in," she said to Jim. "Sorry I was out.
I had to run to the grocer's for the Kitty."

Ella glared at Jim, turned and began to light the
other hall lamps without any attempt at apology.

Jim entered the room with a look of awe, took in
its impression of sweet, homelike order and recovered
quickly his composure.

"Gee, you're the dandy little housekeeper! I could
stay here forever."

"You like it?"

"It's a bird's nest " He glanced in the mirror and
saw the print of Ella's fingers on his collar. "Will
you look at that?" he growled.

"It's too bad," she said, sympathetically.

"You know I thought a she-tiger had got loose from
the Bronx and jumped on me."

"I'm awfully sorry," she apologized. "Ella's very
fond of me. She was trying to protect me. She