Cornelia had stood back aghast at sight of the window-frame; but, when she heard the price, she opened the door wide, and forgot all her troubles for the moment.
“Oh, how wonderful!” she said, her eyes shining. “Come in. Could you—you couldn’t—put it in now?”
“Why, yes, that’s what I come fer, if you want it done. Course I don’t want to force it on you, but I thought you could tell if it would do. We quit early today, ’count of being all done at one place and not wanting to begin another till Monday cause the stuff ain’t come yet; so I just thought to me I’d bring my tools and work all day tomorrow and Saturday,—course that’s a half, but then— And, if you wanted, I’d go at this job right off. I oughtta be able to get this winder in by dark. Of course that’s working after union hours, but this here don’t count, being right next door home, you know; it’s kind of a favor to a neighbor, see? I brought the sash and all; its standing just outside, against the house. Now, you want these one each side the fireplace, don’t you?”
Cornelia drew a deep breath of daring and said, “Yes!” and then suddenly was glad—just a little—that Carey had been called away. Now she could surprise the whole family.
With her heart in her mouth she stood by the open parlor door, and watched a great hole arrive in the blank wall, and then with a breath of relief turned and sped quickly upstairs to make up for lost time and to put the rooms there in order. It would soon be time for the children to come home from school. How surprised they would be! She knew she could count on both of them to be delighted; but she wished it had been possible for that window to be in before they arrived, it would be such fun to surprise them with it. Then she glanced out the window, and saw a little girl coming in the gate; and she hurried down to the door to see what was wanted.
“Why,” began the small maiden, “your sister Lou said to tell you she ner Harry wouldn’t be home till late. She said they had to practise that play fer the entertainment. She said you needn’t to worry. She said to tell you Harry had telephoned to the store, and it’s all right.”
“Oh, thank you!” said Cornelia with a pleased smile. Now there would be something done to show them when the children got home. How nice that the rehearsal should happen today! She had almost forgotten her disappointment about Carey in her desire to surprise the family.
The man went right at the work, and she could see in five minutes that he was interested and was no laggard. In half an hour they had located the window, and he had half of the opening sawed out. Cornelia went back to the kitchen to get some neglected cooking under way; and, when she returned, he was fitting the window-frame. She looked around the little room with delight. What a difference it was going to make to have light and air from that side! She slipped happily back to her work again, and the sound of the saw and hammer was like music to her soul. There was no longer any doubt whether she ought to have waited. Now and then the thought of Carey hurt through her brain like a sting of something sharp, but she soothed herself by making custard pies for supper. Carey liked custard pies, and while she was making them it seemed easier to believe he would return in time for the evening meal.
At a quarter to six the carpenter went home. He had finished putting in the window, and had marked out the place for the other one. He had also ripped off the base boards on the parlor side of the wall that was to come down, and had taken off the trim of the door-frame. It began to look like business. He promised to come in the morning and bring the I beam and the other window. As he had to go to his boss’s shop for them, she had no fear he would arrive before her family were away. So with a gleeful glance at the new window Cornelia carefully closed the parlor door, and turned the key in the lock, putting it into her pocket. If the family questioned, she would say that she thought it safer to keep it locked lest some one might forget in the dark and fall into that open fireplace hole. Then, hugging her secret to her heart, she hurried back to get her dinner ready to serve.
The children came tumbling joyously into the side door, both talking at once about the play and demanding to know how much Carey had got done on the fireplace, and their father smiling behind, interested in all—but Carey had not come yet!