Page:Sheila and Others (1920).djvu/20

Rh and help me out a while longer, won't you, Sheila, till we see how we get on by ourselves?"

"I will that, Mem," responded Sheila with unexpected and reassuring heartiness.

After the lady of domestic experience and convictions left us to our own inferior ways, we settled down into a comfortable routine, while the dust (I suppose) settled down again also into the grooves of the bathroom panels, and not many days after the departure I heard that most cheering of all sounds to a housekeeper's ear, a snatch of song from the kitchen.

The exigencies of said kitchen had been presided over so long by maidens of uncertain age and temper that it was a welcome change to have there a brisk young person radiating energy, who didn't resent one's appearance as an intrusion, or one's interest in the state of the bread-box as an unwarrantable liberty. On the contrary, Sheila invited inspection with every appearance of having nothing to conceal. Everyone took to her. The cheeriness of her smile and coaxing manner warmed the heart of the callers at the door (where also the effulgence of the brass testified to her thoroughness) and inspired hope in the needle-