They all laughed at that.
"Mrs. Dayton has tried both salt and pepper and been cheerful as a lark," said Mrs. Pratt.
"And plenty of sugar," laughed Mrs. Dayton. "Though I confess I have been tried with jelly that wouldn't jell. The weather has been bad for that."
"And Miss Helen has kept rosy. She has been good to look at," subjoined Mrs. Disbrowe.
Mrs. Van Dorn smiled at the girl who flushed with the praise.
She wanted to be read to sleep that night, just as she had been the night before, and chose Tennyson.
"Well, I do hope we will have a nice week to come," Mrs. Dayton said when they were alone. "Old lady Van Dorn has been trying. Helen, you have kept your temper excellently. What are you smiling about?"
"I guess I have been trained to keep my temper."
"Because your aunt doesn't let anyone fly out but herself? That's in the Cummings blood. And you haven't any of that. Sometimes your voice has the sound of your father's. You are more Grant than Mulford."
"You knew my father——" Helen paused and glanced up wondering whether it was much or little.