"We—that is, Jean and I and Sally O'Dowd—have been talking things over; and we have concluded that we had better settle our side of this business proposition before matters go any further," said Mary, speaking with unusual decision. "As you, father, have arranged to have a partner, and as—to use his own words—' business is business,' I want to say that I will be your cook at the partnership mess-house, but only at a reasonable salary. If you had no partner, the work would be all in the family, and we could settle its dividend among ourselves."
"I have engaged a dozen pupils and will open a little school in a few days," interrupted Jean, who had not heard the partner's proposition in regard to herself, and therefore spoke without embarrassment. "But I shall have plenty of time to keep the books of the concern after school hours, and I will see that ever)rthing is done on business principles."
"The deuce you will!" thought the partner. Then aloud: "I was intendin' to keep the books myself."
"Are you a practical book-keeper?" asked Jean.
"No; that is, not edzactly. But I kin keep most any set o' transactions in my head. I never in my born days hearn tell of any woman or gal that could keep books. An' I never knowed any woman to git a salary."
"That was because you never knew the Ranger family," laughed Marjorie.
"It is arranged that Hal is to have employment in the mill at a salary," said Mary, "and he is very proud of the opportunity. We girls are all as willing to work as he is. But we do not believe at all in the custom of servitude without salary, to which all married women, and most of the single ones, are subject."
"Is that the way you look at it. Miss Jean?" asked her would-be suitor.
"Daddie has always taught us that the highest type
