Winona, who after thirteen weeks at Abbey Close found the home arrangements rather chaotic, could not help privately endorsing Miss Beach's wisdom in instituting such a change.

Poor Mrs.Woodward had been greatly out of health for the last few months, and kept much to her bedroom, while the children had been running wild in a quite deplorable fashion.

Letty, who ought to have had some influence over the others, was the naughtiest of all, and the ringleader in every mischievous undertaking.

Having occupied the position of "eldest" for thirteen weeks, she was not at all disposed to submit to her sister's authority, and there were many tussles between the two.
"You'll _have_ to do as your governess tells you, when she comes!" protested Winona on one particularly urgent occasion.
"All right, Grannie!" retorted Letty pertly.

"I'll settle that matter with the good lady herself, and in the meantime I'm not going to knuckle under to you, so don't think it! You needn't come back so precious high and mighty from your High School, and expect to boss the whole show here.