That stock-room could have been cleaned any time this month and
it's too heavy work for me anyway; it spoils my hands, grubbing
around those nasty, sticky, splintery boxes and barrels. Instead
of being out of doors, I've got to be shut up in that smelly,
rummy, tobacco-y, salt-fishy, pepperminty place with Cephas Cole!
He won't have a pleasant morning, I can tell you! I shall snap
his head off every time he speaks to me."

"So I would!" Waitstill answered composedly. "Everything is so
clearly his fault that I certainly would work off my temper on
Cephas! Still, I can think of a way to make matters come out
right. I've got a great basket of mending that must be done, and
you remember there's a choir rehearsal for the new anthem this
afternoon, but anyway I can help a little on the cleaning. Then
you can make Rodman do a few of the odd jobs, it will be a
novelty to him; and Cephas will work his fingers to the bone for
you, as you well know, if you treat him like a human being."

"All right!" cried Patty joyously, her mood changing in an
instant. "There's Rod coming over the bridge now! Toss me my
gingham apron and the scrubbing-brush, and the pail, and the tin
of soft soap, and the cleaning cloths; let's see, the broom's
down there, so I've got everything. If I wave a towel from the
store, pack up luncheon for three. You come down and bring your
mending; then, when you see how I'm getting on, we can consult.
I'm going to take the ten cents I've saved and spend it in
raisins. I can get a good many if Cephas gives me wholesale
price, with family discount substracted from that. Cephas would
treat me to candy in a minute, but if I let him we'd have to ask
him to the picnic! Good-bye!" And the volatile creature darted