Katy studied his face anxiously. It seemed to her that it had grown
older of late, and there was a sad look upon it, which made her heart
ache. She longed to do something for him, but all she could do was to
poke the fire bright, and then to possess herself of his hand, and
stroke it gently with both hers. It wasn't much, to be sure, but I think
Papa liked it.

"What have you been about all day?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing, much," said Katy. "I studied my French lesson this
morning. And after school, Elsie and John brought in their patchwork,
and we had a 'Bee.' That's all."

"I've been thinking how we are to manage about the housekeeping," said
Dr. Carr. "Of course we shall have to get somebody to come and take
charge. But it isn't easy to find just the right person. Mrs. Hall knows
of a woman who might do, but she is out West, just now, and it will be a
week or two before we can hear from her. Do you think you can get on as
you are for a few days?"

"Oh, Papa!" cried Katy, in dismay, "must we have anybody?"

"Why, how did you suppose we were going to arrange it? Clover is much
too young for a housekeeper. And beside, she is at school all day."

"I don't know--I hadn't thought about it," said Katy, in a
perplexed tone.

But she did think about it--all that evening, and the first thing when
she woke in the morning.