`` But our house is n't right . Mary Vance says so . She says people talk about it being so untidy . '' Faith had an inspiration . `` We 'll clean it all up , '' she cried . `` We 'll go right to work to-morrow . It 's a real good chance when Aunt Martha is laid up and ca n't interfere with us . We 'll have it all lovely and clean when father comes home , just like it was when Mary went away . ANY ONE can sweep and dust and wash windows . People wo n't be able to talk about us any more . Jem Blythe says it 's only old cats that talk , but their talk hurts just as much as anybody 's . '' `` I hope it will be fine to-morrow , '' said Una , fired with enthusiasm . `` Oh , Faith , it will be splendid to be all cleaned up and like other people . '' `` I hope Aunt Martha 's misery will last over to-morrow , '' said Faith . `` If it does n't we wo n't get a single thing done . '' Faith 's amiable wish was fulfilled . The next day found Aunt Martha still unable to rise . Carl , too , was still sick and easily prevailed on to stay in bed . Neither Faith nor Una had any idea how sick the boy really was ; a watchful mother would have had a doctor without delay ; but there was no mother , and poor little Carl , with his sore throat and aching head and crimson cheeks , rolled himself up in his twisted bedclothes and suffered alone , somewhat comforted by the companionship of a small green lizard in the pocket of his ragged nighty . The world was full of summer sunshine after the rain .
It was a peerless day for house-cleaning and Faith and Una went gaily XXXXX work .
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