When Mrs. Fabian really understood the enterprise Phil was embarking upon, she resigned herself, and finding an old suit of Mr. Fabian's which he had used for fishing, she bestowed it upon her guest.
Then the work commenced. Eliza tried with a lofty sense of devotion to lend a hand and even besought the privilege; but she was repulsed. Philip induced Captain James to take an interest in his scheme and render him assistance at certain epochs in the reconstruction period, but the Captain and Jane Foster were the only persons privileged to come near the scene of operations; and Miss Foster's heart so far went out to her strong, determined young tenant that she began hunting in her own garret for things to help him along.
With shovel and wheelbarrow, scrubbing-brushes, soapsuds, disinfectants, hammer and nails, Phil went to work.
Eliza stood on her boundary-line, her hands on her hips, and watched, her long nose lifted, while loads of refuse and debris were patiently wheeled down to the edge of the bank and given over to the cleansing tide.
Violet generously offered her window which gave upon the scene of operations, and the opera-glass with which she watched birds; but Eliza declined.
"I won't spy on him," she said, adding vindictively, "but I'll look—the obstinate boy!"
The first time Kathleen called, Violet took her up to her room and they sat in the open window.
"The opera-glass is scarcely any use," she explained, "for he hasn't washed the windows yet and you can't see in at all."
Kathleen laughed, but shrank back. "I don't want him to think we're watching," she replied.