It is a temptation always to make a house pretty, but Clover felt herself on honor to spend no more than was necessary.  Papa had trusted her, and she was resolved to justify his trust.  So she bravely withstood her desire for several things which would have been great improvements so far as looks went, and confined her purchases to articles of clear necessity,—­extra blankets, a bedside carpet for Phil’s room, and a chafing-dish over which she could prepare little impromptu dishes, and so save fuel and fatigue.  She allowed herself some cheap Madras curtains for the parlor, and a few yards of deep-red flannel to cover sundry shelves and corner brackets which Geoffrey Templestowe, who had a turn for carpentry, put up for her.  Various loans and gifts, too, appeared from friendly attics and store-rooms to help out.  Mrs. Hope hunted up some old iron firedogs and a pair of bellows, Poppy contributed a pair of brass-knobbed tongs, and Mrs. Marsh lent her a lamp.  No. 13 began to look attractive.

They were nearly ready, but not yet moved in, when one day as Clover stood in the queer little parlor, contemplating the effect of Geoff’s last effort,—­an extra pine shelf above the narrow mantel-shelf,—­a pair of arms stole round her waist, and a cheek which had a sweet familiarity about it was pressed against hers.  She turned, and gave a great shriek of amazement and joy, for it was her sister Katy’s arms that held her.  Beyond, in the doorway, were Mrs. Ashe and Amy, with Phil between them.

“Is it you; is it really you?” cried Clover, laughing and sobbing all at once in her happy excitement.  “How did it happen?  I never knew that you were coming.”

“Neither did we; it all happened suddenly,” explained Katy.  “The ship was ordered to New York on three days’ notice, and as soon as Ned sailed, Polly and I made haste to follow.  There would have been just time to get a letter here if we had written at once, but I had the fancy to give you a surprise.”

“Oh, it is such a nice surprise!  But when did you come, and where are you?”

“At the Shoshone House,—­at least our bags are there; but we only stayed a minute, we were in such a hurry to get to you.  We went to Mrs. Marsh’s and found Phil, who brought us here.  Have you really taken this funny little house, as Phil tells us?”

“We really have.  Oh, what a comfort it will be to tell you all about it, and have you say if I have done right!  Dear, dear Katy, I feel as if home had just arrived by train.  And Polly, too!  You all look so well, and as if California had agreed with you.  Amy has grown so that I should scarcely have known her.”

Four delightful days followed.  Katy flung herself into all Clover’s plans with the full warmth of sisterly interest; and though the Hopes and other kind friends made many hospitable overtures, and would gladly have turned her short visit into a continuous fete, she persisted in keeping the main part of her time free.  She must see a little of St. Helen’s, she declared, so as to be able to tell her father about it, and she must help Clover to get to housekeeping,—­these were the important things, and nothing else must interfere with them.