up on a chair and laid it on the top shelf of the sideboard. Then she
came back to her father's side and lifted her face for her good night
kiss.

"Good night, my child," said Amos.

"How about me," asked Levine. "Haven't you one to spare for a lonely
bachelor?"

He pulled Lydia to him and kissed her gently on the cheek. "If you
were ten years older and I were ten years younger--"

"Then we'd travel," said the child, with a happy giggle as she ran out
of the room.

There was silence for a moment, then John Levine said, "Too bad old
Lizzie is such a slob."

"I know it," replied Amos, "but she gets no wages, just stayed on after
nursing my wife. I can't afford to pay for decent help. And after
all, she does the rough work, and she's honest and fond of the
children."

"Still Lydia ought to have a better chance. I wish you'd let me--" he
hesitated.

"Let you what?" asked Amos.

"Nothing. She'd better work out things her own way. She'll be getting
to notice things around the house as she grows older."