ten thousand, and take up twelve thousand more as a mortgage. Even
then there's three thousand--"

Nancy looked despair.

"But that could be covered by a second mortgage," he reminded her,
quickly. "That's a very ordinary thing. Everyone does that. Rogers
will fix it up for me."

"Really, Bert?" she asked doubtfully.

"Oh, certainly! We do it every day, in the office. However, we've
got to think this thing over seriously. It's twice--in fact, it's
more than twice what we said. There's the interest on the
mortgage, and the cost of the move, and my commutation, and club
dues. Then of course, living's a little higher--there are no
shops, just telephone service, the shops are in the village."

"But think of car fares--and how simply the children can dress"
Nancy countered quickly. "And if they have all outdoors to play
in, why, I could let Anna go, and just send out the laundry!"

"Well, we could think it over----" Bert began uncomfortably, but
she cut him short. They had been standing beside one of the
windows, and looking out at the soft twilight under the trees; now
Nancy turned to her husband a pale, tense face, and rather bright
eyes.

"Albert," said she, quickly and breathlessly, "if I could have a
home like this I'd manage somehow! You've been saying we could