"It is so nice to have Aunt Zélie back, I am almost glad she went," Bess was heard to say.
And that lady herself thought that such a welcome quite made up for the four rather lonely weeks in the country with her invalid aunt.
CHAPTER XX.[ToC]
THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR.
On the afternoon of the meeting at Miss Brown's, when the silver keys were distributed, Jim had walked home with Aunt Zélie and said as they reached the gate, "Thank you very much for the pin, Mrs. Howard; I mean to remember the motto and be a helper if I can."
"I am sure you do, and you are more than welcome," she replied, thinking, as she looked into the bright, handsome face, "He wants to please me now, but perhaps it will grow into a higher motive."
Jim was quite in earnest when he said this. Three months in the Good Neighbors Club had somewhat changed his point of view. He might still be inconsiderate and thoughtless, but he no longer defended himself by saying that every fellow must look out for himself.