Mrs. Dick?"

"No--what?" Miss Crilly stopped smelling of the roses.

"Why, Tuesday she met an old schoolmate on the street who inquired
if she had been ill. Mrs. Dick said no. 'Why didn't you come to
the wedding, then?' the lady asked. 'Wedding?' exclaimed Mrs.
Dick; 'what wedding?' 'Why, Anita's!' (Anita is her daughter.) 'I
didn't know she was going to be married, and it isn't likely I
should have gone without an invitation,' she laughed. 'I invited
you,' the lady said. 'It was a very informal affair, no cards, and
not many guests; but I telephoned to the Home, for you to come over
and spend the day. I wanted you to see Anita's pretty clothes and
her beautiful presents. They said they'd give you the message
right off.' 'First I've heard of it!' said Mrs. Dick, and I tell
you she was mad! Isn't that awful? If anything happens to us, I
don't know as our friends will hear of it till after the
funeral--huh!"

"Is she going to make a fuss about it?" asked Miss Major.

"Of course not! She'd probably be turned out if she did."

"What are we coming to!" For a minute Miss Crilly actually looked
doleful. "I'm going to tell all my folks that if they want me to
know anything in a hurry they'd better telegraph or send me a
special delivery letter--that'll fix 'em. My! To think of bein'
invited to a weddin' and not knowin' it!"

"When I first came here," resumed Miss Castlevaine, "my cousin was
dreadfully upset because they wouldn't call me to the telephone to
talk with her. Finally she said so much they gave in, and I went
down. I supposed it was the regular thing until she told me about
it afterwards. She had to ask me two or three questions about
something, and get my answers to know what to do."

"There should be a telephone in every room, as there is in a
hotel," asserted Miss Major.

"Oh, my!" ejaculated Miss Crilly. "When you get it, send me word!
Probably I shan't be here by that time, but I guess I shall be
hoverin' somewhere round, and I'll know when your 'phone's in!"

"To have one in each room would be a great deal of expense," said
Mrs. Crump.

"What of it!" retorted Miss Major. "Haven't they money enough?
They're always building additions--now the one that's going to
spoil Miss Sterling's room and Miss Twining's down below. They'd a
good deal better spend it on telephones."

"They've got a new rug down in the hall," announced Miss
Castlevaine. "'Most anybody could have new rugs if