The Story Book Girls

tors

he barrier of ordinary life, and land everybody in a perfect fizzle. The Dudgeons must have called to see Cuthbert, who had never been down yet on these occasions when Mrs. Leighton and Mabel and Jean with perfect propriety had received them. Mabel had had her innings as th

for a bit," said Jean, as they began to remove the regiment of bottles. Dr. Harry

w. Let's go in and give them a decent reception for once." It reflected

indled down to their proper level. Why should any of them be afraid of the Story Books? Certainly not at all, on a day when the

fingers of yours, Harry? What a jewel of a husband you'l

ld for the rest of the afternoon. Something in his look

she called

g off the skirt, and looking demure and mournful. He seemed very

d Elma, "I'm so frig

ed too," whis

d would invade it--or so it seemed to the Dudgeons, who were talking quietly to Mrs. Leighton. The whole room sprouted Leightons. Mrs. Dudgeon resorte

bowing gravely and disregarding some sarcastic laughter f

d. She gave her hand to Cuthbert without a word, but when Elma's turn came she said w

ut Cuthbert, the magnific

didn't tell yo

day, and Miss Annie

on a low chair, and d

ou were playin

one is 'A little thing of my own,' and t

e Maud

on had claimed Cuthbert, so that it became a very easy thi

tup--stup----

asked Adel

ys did whenever any one looked kindly at her. The sweet eyes of Adelaide Maud disarmed her, and she worshipped on the s

one?" asked A

ddenly

n't tell yo

ked about her in

ld play to me,

eally to b

hoolroom," said El

schoolroom," sai

t of the other delicately g

em see us go,

on order, and Jean with blank amazement. Elma had walked off in ten minutes intimately with the flower that Jean had, as

room fixed on her. Quite different from the Dudgeons, who in about two ticks stared one out of looking at them at all. Mr. Leighton came in also, and what might be called her last thaw was undergone by Mrs. Dudgeon in the pleasure o

se. If Mrs. Dudgeon had kept her eye on the Louis Seize clock or the famous Monticelli, all might have gone well, but she preferred to look out of the window. In spite of the

clean

in a whirlwind of talk. Cuthbert vainly endeavoured to move the stony glance of Mrs. Dudge

ver forg

, said she had often heard of the musical proclivities

ife. The party to-night--and that mayonnaise (it will keep maying, won't it?)--and Elma goodness

into a Chop

ou can" with one of the maid-servants--the one who had shown them in. She rushed about in a manner which

the lorgnette to loo

rmined passes, frantically prevented every now and again by the two young girls. The chords of the "railway polonaise"

o do him justice, there was little sign for him that any one saw him, and Mabel's piano playing seemed to envelop everything. He did some graceful things towards the end of the polonaise, but with the last chords became violently mischievous again. With a wild whirl he turned

"He has been playing tr

xcept that Mrs. Dudgeon had been take

ook about for

my daughter that we must be go

unteered to

t for Lance and brought him in with Betty and M

a culprit of t

even, who had been immersed in hysterical laughter

this appreciation, "but I promised mother that I sh

said May, "

e to Mrs. Dudgeon in an explanatory fashion. "Sh

to give up trying to unr

ls Lance, Mrs. Dudgeon. It isn't quit

ciate a person's wickedest mood, ha

o us, these young people,

mood, and for a little while longer she f

d to discover what had happen

Adelaide Maud from the drawing-room to the schoolroom. Adelaide Maud sat on a hassock in the ro

way consistency of Miss Grace's--without the ca

play like that?" a

r," said E

the schoolroom, being just over the drawing-room,

ud laughed

Mrs. Dudgeon sa

"breach of etiquette," as Mabel informed her later

phrase of society," sighed Elma, "or

ly ask me?" ask

k

e now and again! She was just about to explain that they would do anything in the world to ask her, when Cuthbert came into the

Mrs. Dudgeon had sent hi

id Adela

slightest move towa

bert, and Elma could have s

she said in a very cold voice. "I cut ou

?" asked

er could bear to see Cuthbert severe, and it had the effect of terrifying her a t

e tightly, as though Elma were r

t seemed like it," said Adelaide

y, and seemed to answer the freezin

hat sort, what does it

aud turned

and she marched out of the schoolroom with her skirts swishing and he

o this very dignified lady, and so r

with me, are you

ust at the point where Cuthbert, coming savage

go to Miss Grac

spered Elma, with her pla

d Adelaide Maud,

ready to notice a deficiency, remembered that Mr. Leighton had never met Adelaide Maud, and forthwith introduced her. Adelaide Maud took this introduction shyly, and Mr. Leighton was charmed with her. With an unfaltering estimate of character he appraised

re to-night. I fear we detain you all." Nothing could have been more gracious--and yet! Mabel flushed. It seemed so like a children's af

id farewell wi

don't want Mr. Leighton to break his ribs every time. Do you know," she said in a most heart-breaking manner, "I'v

s' carriage, and were rolling swif

hey are," she

er of the carriage, felt her thir