"Really, Blue and Red!" The words were jerked out to conceal a sigh
which had risen involuntarily. "This is disgraceful."

Her sharp brown eyes fell on the pile of dishes she had washed, which
the two girls, who were both drying them, failed to diminish as fast as
she increased it.

"Our cloths are wet," said Blue, looking round the ceiling vaguely, as
if a dry dish-towel might be lying somewhere on a rafter.

"I declare--" the mother began, tapping her foot. But what she was going
to declare was never known, for just then a knock at the outer door
diverted their attention.

However commonplace may be the moment after a door is opened, the moment
before the opening is apt to be full of interest, for one can never know
but that some cause of delightful excitement is on the other side.

It was Blue who opened the door. She did not at first open it very wide,
for she had learned by experience how much icy air could rush in, and
the other two, watching from behind, saw her answering some salutation
with dubious politeness. Then, after a moment, they saw her open it more
widely, and with a shy but hospitable inclination of the pretty
head--"Will you walk in?" said Blue.

The young man who immediately entered had a very smart appearance to
eyes which had grown accustomed to the working garb of father and
brother. He was, moreover, handsome to a degree that is not ordinary.
The curly hair from which he had lifted his fur cap was black and glossy