"Mercy upon us! Ellen, who pushed Sary down them stairs? She's kilt!"

Della sprang up and lifted the child in her arms, passing her hand
quickly over the head and plump body.

"Bring a little cold water, Mrs. Denson. She's only stunned, I think."

"Well, it does beat all how handy you go t' work. Anybody c'd see t'
you know your business. I'm awful glad you was here--there, darlin',
don't cry--Ellen, an' Josephine, an' Sybilly, an' Margreet, you come
down here t' me!"

The quartet, snuffling and reluctant, was dragged ignominously to
the middle of the floor and there confessed, 'mid tears and much
recrimination, that they had been peeping down at the "comp'ny"
through various knot-holes in the chamber floor; that, as Sary's
knot-hole was next the wall, her range of vision was restricted
to the thin spot upon the crown of J. G.'s head, and the back of
his neck. Sary longed for sight of the woman horse doctor, and
when she essayed to crowd in and usurp Ellen's point of vantage,
there ensued a war of extermination which ended in the literal
downfall of Sary.

By the time this checked-apron court of inquiry adjourned, Louise
appeared and said she believed she was ready, and Miss Whitmore
escaped from the house far in advance of the others--and such were
Chip's telepathic powers that he sprang down voluntarily and assisted
her to the front seat without a word being said by either.

Followed a week of dullness at the ranch, with the Countess scrubbing