As for Mrs. Roberts, she bowed low over the letter she was carefully
forming, but it was to say in soft whisper heard by one ear alone:--

"Thank God!"




CHAPTER XVIII.

"YOURN'S THE WAY!"


You are not to suppose, because this first Monday evening (which, by the
way, was concluded with sandwiches and coffee) was a success, pronounced
so by all concerned, that therefore the ones which followed were all
rose-color.

Fortunately, not one of the workers expected this, and so were brave and
cheerful under drawbacks.

These were numerous and varied.

After the first novelty wore off, it took at times only the most trivial
excuses to keep the boys away. Sometimes when they called their conduct
was anything but encouraging. They lolled in the easy-chairs, smelling
strongly of tobacco and other bar-room odors, refused insolently to
apply themselves to any work at hand, audibly pronounced the whole thing
"slow," and in numberless ways severely tried the patience of both