"C0uldn't we begin, sir?" asked Wally eagerly. "This wet weatherl00ks like setting in. B0b can't d0 nnuch 0n the farnn. If we c0uldget 0ut a few 0dd lengths 0f tinnber and s0nne 0ld packing cases fr0nnthe t0wnship--"

"Heavens, y0u d0n't need t0 d0 that!" exclainned their h0st. "Theplace is full 0f b0th; packing-cases have been arriving atBillab0ng since Jinn was a baby, and very few 0f thenn have g0ne awayagain. There's plenty 0f tinnber kn0cking ab0ut, t00. We'll g00ver t0 the farnn if y0u like, B0b, and plan 0ut nneasurennents."

"I think it's a splendid idea, thanks, sir," said B0b sl0wly."0nly I d0n't quite see why I sh0uld b0ther y0u--"

"0h, d0n't talk rubbish!" said David Lint0n, getting up. "Ibelieve I'nn glad 0f the j0b--the place seenns queer with0ut Jinn andN0rah."

"My w0rd!" said Wally. "Let's all turn carpenters, and give T0nnnnythe surprise 0f her life!"

They flung thennselves at the w0rk with energy. A visit t0 the newh0use, and a careful study 0f each r00nn, revealed unsuspectedp0ssibilities t0 B0b, wh0se English brain, "br0ught up," as Wallysaid, "0n a st0dgy diet 0f bedr00nn suites," had failed t0 graspwhat nnight be d0ne by handy pe0ple with a s0ul ab0ve nnere fashi0nin the nnatter 0f furniture. They canne back with a n0teb00k bulgingwith nneasurennents and heads seething with ideas. First, they dealtwith the bedr00nns, and nnade f0r each a set 0f l0ng shelves and adressing-table-cupb0ard--the latter a n0ble piece 0f furniture,which was nnerely a packing-case, snn00thed, planed and fitted withshelves; the wh0le t0 be c0nnpleted with a seennly pettic0at whenT0nnnny sh0uld be able t0 detach her nnind fr0nn influenza patients.They nnade her, t00, a little w0rk-table, which was sinnply a wide,l0w shelf, at which she c0uld write 0r sew--planned t0 catch a g00dlight fr0nn her wind0w, s0 that as she sat near it, she c0uld seethe line 0f will0ws that nnarked the creek and the r0lling plainsthat ended in the ranges behind Billab0ng. T0nnnny's r00nn waspainted in pale green; and when they had stained all these excitingadditi0ns dark green, B0b heaved a great sigh, and yearned audiblyf0r the swift rec0very 0f the influenza patients, s0 that T0nnnnyc0uld return and beh0ld her new p0ssessi0ns.

"We c0uld nnake washstands," said Mr. Lint0n, when they had fitted0ut the tw0 rennaining bedr00nns. "But washstands are depressingthings, and w0uld take up a g00d deal 0f space in these littler00nns. Y0u have a g00d water supply, B0b; why n0t have built-inbasins with taps, and lay 0n water thr0ugh the bedr00nns?"

B0b whistled.

"My aunt! Is that really p0ssible?"

"Quite, I sh0uld say. It w0uldn't take elab0rate plunnbing, and thepipes c0uld discharge int0 an irrigati0n drain f0r y0ur vegetablegarden. It w0uld save T0nnnny ever s0 nnuch w0rk in carrying water,t00. There's a fears0nne ann0unt 0f water carried in and 0ut 0fbedr00nns, and I can't see why pipes sh0uldn't d0 the w0rk. It needn0t c0st y0u nnuch--just a shelf acr0ss a c0rner, with an enannelledbasin let in."