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〃You bear your worries so well that nobody knows you have them。
I ought not to complain； and I won't； for I do have all I need。 I'm so
glad you are going to get what you want at last〃； and Merry held
out her hand to say good…night； with so much pleasure in her face
that Ralph could not make up his mind to go just yet。
〃I shall have to scratch round in a lively way before I do get it； for
David says a fellow can't live on less than four or five hundred a
year； even living as poor artists have to； in garrets and on Crusts。 I
don't mind as long as Grandma is all right。 She is away to…night； or
I should not be here；〃 he added； as if some excuse was necessary。
Merry needed no hint； for her tender heart was touched by the
vision of her friend in a garret； and she suddenly rejoiced that there
was ham and eggs for supper； so that he might be well fed once； at
least； before he went away to feed on artistic crusts。
〃Being here； come in and spend the evening。 The boys will like to
hear the news； and so will father。 Do； now。〃
It was impossible to refuse the invitation he had been longing for；
and in they went to the great delight of Roxy； who instantly retired
to the pantry； smiling significantly； and brought out the most
elaborate pie in honor of the occasion。 Merry touched up the table；
and put a little vase of flowers in the middle to redeem the
vulgarity of doughnuts。 Of course the boys upset it； but as there
was company nothing was said； and Ralph devoured his supper
with the appetite of a hungry boy； while watching Merry eat bread
and cream out of an old…fashioned silver porringer； and thinking it
the sweetest sight he ever beheld。
Then the young people gathered about the table； full of the new
plans； and the elders listened as they rested after the week's work。
A pleasant evening； for they all liked Ralph； but as the parents
watched Merry sitting among the great lads like a little queen
among her subjects； half unconscious as yet of the power in her
hands； they nodded to one another； and then shook their heads as if
they said；
〃I'm afraid the time is coming； mother。〃
〃No danger as long as she don't know it； father。〃
At nine the boys went off to the barn； the farmer to wind up the
eight…day clock； and the housewife to see how the baked beans and
Indian pudding for to…morrow were getting on in the oven。 Ralph
took up his hat to go； saying as he looked at the shade on the tall
student lamp；
〃What a good light that gives！ I can see it as I go home every night；
and it burns up here like a beacon。 I always look for it； and it
hardly ever fails to be burning。 Sort of cheers up the way； you
know； when I'm tired or low in my mind。〃
〃Then I'm very glad I got it。 I liked the shape； but the boys laughed
at it as they did at my buirushes in a ginger…jar over there。 I'd been
reading about 'household art；' and I thought I'd try a little；〃
answered Merry； laughing at her own whims。
〃You've got a better sort of household art； I think； for you make
people happy and places pretty； without fussing over it。 This room
is ever so much improved every time I come； though I hardly see
what it is except the flowers；〃 said Ralph； looking from the girl to
the tall calla that bent its white cup above her as if to pour its dew
upon her head。
〃Isn't that lovely？ I tried to draw itthe shape was so graceful I
wanted to keep it。 But I couldn't。 Isn't it a pity such beautiful things
won't last forever？〃 and Merry looked regretfully at the half…faded
one that grew beside the fresh blossom。
〃I can keep it for you。 It would look well in plaster。 May I？〃 asked
Ralph。
〃Thank you； I should like that very much。 Take the real one as a
modelplease do； there are more coming； and this will brighten up
your room for a day or two。〃
As she spoke； Merry cut the stem； and； adding two or three of the
great green leaves； put the handsome flower in his hand with so
much good…will that he felt as if he had received a very precious
gift。 Then he said good…night so gratefully that Merry's hand quite
tingled with the grasp of his； and went away； often looking
backward through the darkness to where the light burned brightly
on the hill…topthe beacon kindled by an unconscious Hero for a
young Leander swimming gallantly against wind and tide toward
the goal of his ambition。
Chapter 17 Down at Molly's
〃Now； my dears； I've something very curious to tell you； so listen
quietly and then I'll give you your dinners；〃 said Molly； addressing
the nine cats who came trooping after her as she went into the
shed…chamber with a bowl of milk and a plate of scraps in her
hands。 She had taught them to behave well at meals； so； though
their eyes glared and their tails quivered with impatience； they
obeyed； and when she put the food on a high shelf and retired to
the big basket； the four old cats sat demurely down before her；
while the five kits scrambled after her and tumbled into her lap； as
if hoping to hasten the desired feast by their innocent gambols。
Granny； Tobias； Mortification； and Molasses were the elders。
Granny； a gray old puss； was the mother and grandmother of all the
rest。 Tobias was her eldest son； and Mortification his brother； so
named because he had lost his tail； which affliction depressed his
spirits and cast a blight over his young life。 Molasses was a yellow
cat； the mamma of four of the kits； the fifth being Granny's latest
darling。 Toddlekins； the little aunt； was the image of her mother；
and very sedate even at that early age； Miss Muffet； so called from
her dread of spiders； was a timid black and white kit； Beauty； a
pretty Maltese； with a serene little face and pink nose； Ragbag； a
funny thing； every color that a cat could be； and Scamp； who well
deserved his name； for he was the plague of Miss Bat's life； and
Molly's especial pet。
He was now perched on her shoulder； and； as she talked； kept
peeping into her face or biting her ear in the most impertinent way；
while the others sprawled in her lap or promenaded round the
basket rim。
〃My friends； something very remarkable has happened： Miss Bat is
cleaning house！〃 and； having made this announcement； Molly
leaned back to see how the cats received it； for she insisted that
they understood all she said to them。
Tobias stared； Mortification lay down as if it was too much for
him； Molasses beat her tail on the floor as if whipping a dusty
carpet； and Granny began to purr approvingly。 The giddy kits paid
no attention； as they did not know what house…cleaning meant；
happy little dears！
〃I thought you'd like it； Granny； for you are a decent cat； and know
what is proper；〃 continued Molly； leaning down to stroke the old
puss； who blinked affectionately at her。 〃I can't imagine what put it
into Miss Bat's head。 I never said a word； and gave up groaning
over the clutter； as I couldn't mend it。 I just took care of Boo and
m