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so I suppose it is possible."
    "Great Scott!" ejaculated Stephen again in amazement. He was not certain whether Philip was in earnest or not.
    "And the piano ought to stand there," said Margaret after the laugh had subsided.
    "Certainly," answered Philip again, more amazed than ever. "But might I inquire what you would do with the stove? You couldn't cook on the piano, could you? Or would you expect to use the fireplace?"
    The old woman peered in from t he win dow she was washing to see what all the laughter and shouts meant. This seemed to be an exceedingly jolly household into which she had come. She had not heard sounds so light-hearted and merry, so utterly free from the bitter mirth that tinged most of the jollity in this region, in all her life, not since she was a little child and played among the care-free children.
    "The stove," said Margaret, "must go into the kitchen, of course."
    "Ah!" said Philip meekly. "Strange I didn't think of that. Now, where, might I inquire, is the kitchen?"
    Margaret arose and went to the back win dow, and the two followed her. "It ought to be right here," she said, "and this window should be made into a door leading to it. What is that little square building out there? Can't we have that for a kitchen?"
    "That ed ifice, madam, was originally in tended for other purposes, the housing of cer¬tain cattle or smaller animals, I forget just what. It isn't of much use for anything. It is in a tumble-down condition. But, if your fairy wand can transform it into a kitchen, so it shall be."
    "Say, now that's an idea, Phil!" said Stephen interestedly.
    "Then we could use a corner of this room for a dining-room, you know," said Margaret, turning back to the house again. "I have a pretty little cupboard with glass doors that will just fit into that corner, and there are screens and draperies. It will be just charmin g. I've always wanted to fix up a lovely big room that way. Can't you imagine the firelight playing over the table-cloth and dishes?"
    "We haven't seen a table-cloth in so long I'm afraid it would be a strain on our minds to try to do that," said Stephen bitterly. All this talk was alluring, but wholly impossible. Such things could never come into his life. He had long ago given over expecting them. A look of hopeless longing went across his face, and Philip saw and wondered. He had felt that way himself, but somehow it had never seemed to him that his comrade would understand such feelings, he seemed so happy-go-lucky always.
    "But w hat would you do with the rough ness of everything?" asked Philip doubtfully. "Pianos and corner cupboards wouldn't like to associate with forests of splinters."
    "O, cover them," said Margaret easily, as if she had settled that long ago. "I brought a whole bolt of burlap for such things. It is a lovely leaf-green, and will be just the thing for a background. I don't suppose I have enough; but I can send a sample to New York, and have it here before we need it. I've been thinking this morning what beautiful molding those smooth, dry corn-stalks would make tacked on next the ceiling. You see, when the walls are covered with something that makes a good background, this will look like a different place."
    ""You see, Steve, that's what's the matter with you and me . We've never had a suitable back ground," said Philip slowly.
    And thus it was that, amid laughing and questioning, Margaret won her way, and finally saw Philip go off with two horses and a large wagon. She was much troubled that Stephen had not gone with him. It seemed so strange when he was her brother, and Philip would need help, surely, in loading up the furniture. Philip certainly was a queer man. Why did he presume to dictate to Stephen, and, strangest of all, why did Stephen sulkily submit? When she knew her brother better, she would find out, and spur him on to act independently. Again she wondered uneasily whether Philip was not a hindrance to her plans. A man who could so easily command her