something like himself," said Gerald, "don't
you?"

Arthur laughed, because he did not know what else to do. And then Maude
gave a faint laugh.

"What's the use of keeping on wishing, Maude?" said Arnold, rousing
himself. "Why can't you make them?"

"Well, how would you?" asked Maude.

"Oh, that is quite another thing," said Arnold, yawning.

"I dare say you could not do it as well as Maude," said Harold.

"No; very likely not," said Arnold, laughing, and he returned to his book.

"Well, I wish you would all make haste and finish tea," said Maude, taking
out her watch, "whatever way you do it. Oh, dear, I must make haste, or I
shall not be ready in time for dinner. Arnold, you must go. What will papa
say if we are not ready when the bell rings?"

Arnold got up as if with an immense effort. "I dare say I shall be ready
quite as soon as you are, Maudie. You always get into such a fluster about
every thing."

When the two eldest were gone, the younger ones became still more lively.
One of the little girls was more quiet than the rest, and she seemed to
think it would be nice and polite to talk to their visitor.

"Do you always have your meals by yourselves?" asked Arthur.

"All except breakfast," said Minnie. "You see, mamma hardly ever comes out
of her dressing-room; she is ill, and papa is away all the day, and he
only comes home to dinner at seven."

"Does he have dinner alone?"

"Oh, no; you know that was the reason Maude was in such a hurry. She and
Arnold dine with papa." Then they were both silent for a little while.
Presently Arthur said, "I wonder when I shall be able to see Edgar."

Minnie hesitated, and then said, "I was just thinking about that. You see,
Edgar does not know you have come; and, besides, I think he is asleep; he
was just now, and I cannot go and ask Maude."

"Why not?" said Arthur.

"Oh, because dinner is going on. Papa would not like it."

"You do what your sister tells you more than the others," said Arthur,
"don't you?"

"Oh, we all do sometimes," said Minnie. After a little while she spoke
again:

"I don't think Maude would mind. Perhaps she forgot, and I can tell her
about it afterwards. I'll tell you what we will do; we will go up to
Edgar's door, and then I can go in, and you can stay outside while I see
whether he is asleep, and whether I can tell him that you are here. I
don't think Maude will mind. Shall we?"

"Yes," said Arthur. "I don't see why she should, bec