Elsie, dear, run into papa's room first, and bring me the drawer out of
his table. I want to put that in order myself."

Elsie went cheerfully. She laid the drawer across Katy's lap, and Katy
began to dust and arrange the contents. Pretty soon Clover joined them.

"Here's the cushion," she said. "Now we'll have a nice quiet time all by
ourselves, won't we? I like this sort of day, when nobody comes in to
interrupt us."

Somebody tapped at the door, as she spoke. Katy called out, "Come!" And
in marched a tall, broad-shouldered lad, with a solemn, sensible face,
and a little clock carried carefully in both his hands. This was Dorry.
He has grown and improved very much since we saw him last, and is
turning out clever in several ways. Among the rest, he has developed a
strong turn for mechanics.

"Here's your clock, Katy," he said. "I've got it fixed so that it
strikes all right. Only you must be careful not to hit the striker when
you start the pendulum."

"Have you, really?" said Katy. "Why, Dorry, you're a genius! I'm ever so
much obliged."

"It's four minutes to eleven now," went on Dorry. "So it'll strike
pretty soon. I guess I'd better stay and hear it, so as to be sure that
it is right. That is," he added politely, "unless you're busy, and would
rather not."

"I'm never too busy to want you, old fellow," said Katy, stroking his