The Treasure went to market only twice a week, on Saturdays and Tuesdays.  She planned her meals long beforehand, with the aid of charts brought from college, and paid cash for everything she bought.  She always carried a large market basket on her arm on these trips, and something in her trim, strong figure and clean gray gown, as she started off, appealed to a long-slumbering sense of house-holder’s pride in Mr. Salisbury.  It seemed good to him that a person who worked so hard for him and for his should be so bright and contented looking, should like her life so well.

Late in September Mrs. Salisbury came downstairs again to a spotless drawing-room and a dining-room gay with flowers.  Dinner was a little triumph, and after dinner she was escorted to a deep chair, and called upon to admire new papers and hangings, cleaned rugs and a newly polished floor.

“You are wonderful, wonderful people, every one of you!” said the convalescent, smiling eyes roving about her.  “Grass paper, Kane, and such a dear border!” she said.  “And everything feeling so clean!  And my darling girl writing letters and seeing people all these weeks!  And my boys so good!  And dear old Daddy carrying the real burden for everyone—­what a dreadfully spoiled woman I am!  And Justine—­come here a minute, Justine—­”

The Treasure, who was clearing the dining-room table, came in, and smiled at the pretty group, mother and father, daughter and sons, all rejoicing in being well and together again.

“I don’t know how I am ever going to thank you, Justine,” said Mrs. Salisbury, with a little emotion.  She took the girl’s hand in both her transparent white ones.  “Do believe that I appreciate it,” she said.  “It has been a comfort to me, even when I was sickest, even when I apparently didn’t know anything, to know that you were here, that everything was running smoothly and comfortably, thanks to you.  We could not have managed without you!”

Justine returned the finger pressure warmly, also a little stirred.

“Why, it’s been a real pleasure,” she said a little huskily.  She had to accept a little chorus of thanks from the other members of the family before, blushing very much and smiling, too, she went back to her work.

“She really has managed everything,” Kane Salisbury told his wife later.  “She handles all the little monthly bills, telephone and gas and so on; seems to take it as a matter of course that she should.”

“And what shall I do now, Kane?  Go on that way, for a while anyway?” asked his wife.

“Oh, by all means, dear!  You must take things easy for a while.  By degrees you can take just as much or as little as you want, with the managing.”

“You dear old idiot,” the lady said tenderly, “don’t worry about that!  It will all come about quite naturally and pleasantly.”

Indeed, it was still a relief to depend heavily upon Justine.  Mrs. Salisbury was quite bewildered by the duties that rose up on every side of her; Sandy’s frocks for the fall, the boys’ school suits, calls that must be made, friends who must be entertained, and the opening festivities of several clubs to which she belonged.