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care of him; she had always mothered a big family of brothers. They had taught her the strangeness of men, but she made more allowance for the shortcomings of her man than she had done for the shortcomings of her brothers.
    I was making my garden when they came to live in my house. They would come rushing down the stair, he to seize my spade, she to play the hose so that I could sit and rest a little. They shared their jokes and giggles with me.
    When at dusk, aching, tired, I climbed to my flat, on my table was a napkined plate with a little surprise whose odour was twin to that of the supper in the Doll’s House.
    Sometimes, when my inexperience was harried by Lower East or Lower West, when things were bothersome, difficult, so that I was just hating being a landlady, she would pop a merry joke or run an arm round me, or he would say, “Shall I fix that leak?—put up that shelf?”
    Oh, they were like sunshine pouring upon things still immature and hard by reason of their greenness. Other tenants came and went leaving no print of themselves behind—that happy couple left the memory of their joyousness in every corner. When, after they were gone, I went into the Doll’s House emptiness, I felt their laughing warmth still there.

REFERENCES
    EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME to beware of people who were glib with references. I never asked a reference. I found that only villains offered them.
    There was a certain Mrs. Panquist. The woman had a position in a very reputable office. Her husband was employed in another. Her relatives were people of position, respected citizens. She gave me this voluntary information when she came to look at the flat.
    â€œIt suits me,” she said. “I will bring my husband to see it before deciding.”
    Later she rang up to say he was not coming to see it. They had decided to take the flat and would move in early the next morning. She would bring her things before business hours. Furthermore she asked that I prepare an extra room I had below for her maid. To do this I had to buy some new furniture.
    She did not come or send her things next morning; all day there was no word of her. I had the new furniture bought and everything ready.
    Late in the evening she arrived very tired and sour.
    She snatched the key out of my hand.
    â€œIt is usual to exchange the rent for the key,” I said knowing this was war-time and that there was some very shady fly-by-nights going from one apartment house to another.
    â€œI am too tired to bother about rent tonight!” she snapped. “I will come up with it in the morning before I go to work.”
    Again she failed to keep her promise. I asked her for the rent several times but she always put me off. Finally she said rudely, “I am not going to pay; my husband can.”
    I went to the man, who was most insolent, saying, “My wife took the flat; let her pay.”
    â€œCome,” I said. “Time is going on, one or the other of you must pay.” I pointed to the notice on my kitchen door “ RENTS IN ADVANCE .” He laughed in my face. “Bosh!” he said. “We don’t pay till we are ready.”
    I began to make enquiries about the couple, not from those people whose names they had given as reference, but from their former landlady. Their record was shocking. They had rented from a war widow, destroyed her place, and gone off owing her a lot of money.
    Both of the Panquists had jobs; they could pay and I was not going to get caught as the war widow had been.
    I consulted the law—was turned over to the Sheriff.
    â€œAny furniture of their own?”
    â€œOnly a couple of suitcases.”
    â€œNot enough value to cover the rental they owe?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThis is what you are to do. Watch—when you see them go out take a pass key, go in and fasten up the flat so that they cannot get in until the rental is paid.”
    â€œOh, I’m scared; the man is such a big