"Carteratic!" drawled Nan. "We were talking about mother and father."

"What about them? Is father worse?" Helen was ever on the alert when her father's well-being was in question.

"No, he is better in some ways, but unless he is kept free from worry he will never be well," said Douglas solemnly.

She had not broached the subject of money with Helen since the question of White Sulphur had been discussed by them, feeling that Helen would not or could not understand.

"Who's going to worry him? Not I!"

"Of course not you. Just the lack of money is going to worry him, and he is going to feel the lack of it if mother wants things and can't have them."

"Why don't you let her have them?"

"How can I? I haven't the wherewithal any more than you."

"I thought we were making money."

"So we are, but not any great amount. I think it is wonderful that we have been able to support ourselves and put anything in the bank. I had to draw out almost all of our earnings to pay for the things mother bought in New York, not that I wasn't glad to do it, but that means we have not so much to go on for the winter."

"Oh, for goodness' sake don't be worrying about the winter now! Mother says our credit is so good we need not worry a bit."

Douglas and Nan looked at each other sadly. Douglas turned away with a "what's the use" expression. Helen looked a little defiant as she saw her sister's distress.

"See here, Helen!" and this time Nan did not drawl. Helen realized her little sister was going to say something she must listen to. "You have got a whole lot of sense but you have got a whole lot to learn. I know you are going to laugh at me for saying you have got to learn a lot that I, who am two years younger than you, already know. You have got to learn that our poor little mumsy's judgment is not worth that," and Nan snapped her finger.

"Nan! You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"Well, I am ashamed of myself, but I am telling the truth. I don't see the use in pretending any more about it. I love her just as much, but anyone with half an eye can see it. I think what we must do is to face it and then tactfully manage her."

Douglas and Helen could not help laughing at Nan.

"You see," she continued, "it is up to us to support the family somehow and make mumsy comfortable and keep her from telling father that she hasn't got all she wants. Of course she can't have all she wants, but she can be warm and fed at least."

"But, Nan, it isn't up to you to support the family," said Douglas. "You must go back to school, you and Lucy."

"Well, it is up to me to spend just as little money as possible and to earn some if I can. I am not going to be a burden on you and Helen. You needn't think it."

"We'll have the one hundred from the rent of the house and then Helen and I shall have to find jobs. What, I don't know."

"Well, I, for one, can't find a job until I get some new clothes,"

declared Helen. "I haven't a thing that is not hopelessly out of style."

"Can't your last winter's suit be done over? Mine can."

"Now, Douglas, what's the use in going around looking like a frump? I think we should all of us get some new clothes and then waltz in and get good jobs on the strength of them. If I were employing girls I should certainly choose the ones who look the best."

Douglas shook her head sadly. Helen was Helen and there was no making her over. She would have to learn her lesson herself and there was no teaching her.

"Dr. Wright says we must keep father out of the city this winter but we need not be in the dead country. We can get a little house on the edge of town so Nan and Lucy can go in to school. I think we can get along on the rent from the house if you and I can make something besides."

When the question of where they were to live for the winter was broached to Mrs. Carter, she was taken quite ill and had to stay in bed a whole day.

"No one considers me at all," she whimpered to Nan, who had brought her a tray with some tea and toast for her luncheon. "Just because you and Douglas like the country you think it is all right. I am sure I shall die in some nasty little frame cottage in the suburbs. It is ridiculous that we cannot turn those wretched people out of my house and let me go back and live in it again."

"But, mumsy," soothed Nan, "we are going to make you very comfortable and we will find a pretty house and maybe it will be brick."

"But to dump me down in the suburbs when I have had to be away from society for all these months as it is! I am sure if I could talk it over with your father he would agree with me--but you girls even coerce me in what I shall and shall not say to my own husband. I do not intend to submit to it any longer."

"Oh, mother, please--please don't tell father. Dr. Wright says----"

"Don't tell me what Dr. Wright says! I am bored to death with what he says. I know he has been kind but I can't see that our affairs must be indefinitely directed by him. I will sleep a little now if you will let me be quiet."

CHAPTER XX

DR. WRIGHT TO THE RESCUE

Nan went sadly off. What should she do? Dr. Wright was expected at the camp that afternoon and she determined to speak to him and ask him once more to interfere in the Carters' affairs. Even if the young physician did bore her mother, it was necessary now for him to step in. If only she would not carry out her threat of speaking to her husband!

Dr. Wright treated the matter quite seriously when Nan told him of the mix-up.

"Certainly your father must not be worried. It is quite necessary that he shall be kept out of the city for many months yet and no one must talk money to him. Can't your mother see this?"

"She doesn't seem to."

"But Helen understands, surely!"

"I--I--think Helen thinks father is so much better that we can--we can--kind of begin to spend again," faltered Nan, whose heart misgave her, fearing she might be saying something to obstruct the course of true love which her romantic little soul told her was going on between Helen and Dr. Wright. At least she could not help seeing that he was casting sheep's eyes at Helen, and that while Helen was not casting them back at him she was certainly not averse to his attentions.

"Begin to spend again! Ye G.o.ds and little fishes! Why, if bills begin to be showered in again on Robert Carter I will not answer for his reason.

He is immensely improved, but it is only because he has had no worries.

Where is your mother?" His face looked quite stern and his kind blue eyes were not kind at all but flashed scornfully.

"She is in bed."

"Is she ill?"

"Well, not exactly--she--she--is kind of depressed."

"Depressed! Depressed over what?"

"Oh, Dr. Wright, I hate to be telling you these things! It looks as though I did not love my mother to be talking about her, but indeed I do. Douglas and I are so miserable about it, but we--we--somehow we feel that we are a great deal older than mumsy. We know it is hard on her--all of this----"

"All of what?"

"This living such a rough life--and having to give up society and our pretty house and everything."