cord to her father and Miss Martha, a thing which she seldom did.
"Jim Patterson asked me to marry him when I asked him what seven and two
made in my arithmetic lesson," said she. She looked with the loveliest
round eyes of innocence first at her father, then at Miss Martha. Cyril
Rose gasped and laid down his newspaper.

"What did you say, little Lucy?" he asked.

"Jim Patterson asked me to marry him when I asked him to tell me how
much seven and two made in my arithmetic lesson."

Cyril Rose and his cousin Martha looked at each other.

"Arnold Carruth asked me, too, when a great big wasp flew on my arm and
frightened me."

Cyril and Martha continued to look. The little, sweet, uncertain voice
went on.

"And Johnny Trumbull asked me when I 'most fell down on the sidewalk;
and Lee Westminster asked me when I wasn't doing anything, and so did
Bubby Harvey."

"What did you tell them?" asked Miss Martha, in a faint voice.

"I told them I didn't know."

"You had better have the child go to bed now," said Cyril. "Good night,
little Lucy. Always tell father everything."

"Yes, father," said little Lucy, and was kissed, and went away with
Martha.

When Martha returned, her cousin looked at her severely. He was a fair,
gentle-looking man, and severity was impressive when he assumed it.

"Really, Martha," said he, "don't you think you had better have a little
closer outlook over that baby?"

"Oh, Cyril, I never dreamed of such a thing," cried Miss Martha.

"You really must speak to Madame," said Cyril. "I cannot have such
things put into the child's head."

"Oh, Cyril, how can I?"

"I think it is your duty."

"Cyril, could not--you?"

Cyril grinned. "Do you think," said he, "that I am going to that elegant
widow schoolma'am and say, 'Madame, my young daughter has had four
proposals of marriage in one day, and I must beg you to put a stop to
such proceedings'? No, Martha; it is a woman's place to do such a thing
as that. The whole thing is too absurd, indignant as I am about it. Poor
little soul!"

So it happened that Miss Martha Rose, the next day being Saturday,
called on Madame, but, not being asked any leading question, found
herself absolutely unable to deliver herself of her errand, and went
away with it unfulfilled.

"Well, I must say," said Madame to Miss Parmalee, as Miss Martha tripped
wearily down the front walk--"I must say, of all the educated women who
have really been in the world, she is