VALLEY

MARY STAYS AT THE MANSE 63cipher up to fractions. That's all I want. You fellowsgo and I'll stay home. You needn't be scared I'll stealanything. I swear I'm honest."Mary employed herself while the others were inschool in cleaning up the manse. In a few daysit wada different place.Floors were swept, furniture dusted,everything straightened out. She mended the spareroombed-tick, she sewed on missing buttons, shepatched clothes neatly, she even invaded the study withbroom and dust-pan and ordered Mr. Meredith outwhile she putit to rights. But there was one departmentwith which Aunt Martha refused to let her interfere.Aunt Martha might be deaf and half blind andvery childish, but she was resolved to keepthe commissariatin her own hands, in spite of allMary's wilesand stratagems."I can tellyou if old Martha'd let me cook you'dhave some decent meals," she told the manse childrenindignantly. "There'd be no more 'ditto' and nomore lumpy porridge and blue milk either. What doesshe do with allthe cream?""She givesit to the cat.Faith.He's hers, you know," said"I'd like to cat her," exclaimed Mary bitterly."I'veno use for cats anyhow. They belong to the old Nick.You can tell that by their eyes. Well, if old Marthawon't, she won't, I s'pose. But it gits on my nervesto see good vittles spoiled."When school came out they always went to Rainbow