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 had also arrived, and the Pequot Queen resounded to eager voices. The rain had ceased and beyond the hills westward the gray clouds were breaking when, carrying pails and mop, broom and brush, the party of six went back to the shop in merry mood.

It had been very hard to keep Miss Comfort away from her new home thus far, and, since they wanted to have everything in shape before she saw it, they didn't recount to her all that had been accomplished, "You see, ma'am," said Laurie, "she was pretty dirty, and—"

"But I'll attend to the cleaning," declared Miss Comfort eagerly. "Land sakes, I don't expect you boys to do that!"

"No, ma'am, well, now you take that hen—I mean boiler-room. That wouldn't be any sort of work for you."

"But it doesn't seem right to let you young folks do so much. Why, just look at the boy's shoes! They're soaking wet!"

"Oh, Kewpie doesn't mind that, Miss Comfort. Besides, I guess it's just outside that's wet. Isn't it, Kewpie?"