ow that
included them all. "I hope you enjoyed your evening."

"Yes, indeed, thank you, sir!"

"It was beautiful!"

"Lovely!"

"Where do you keep Lois, I mean the cherub?" murmured Nettie in so shy
a tone that only her lips were seen moving, and Claude wished he were
well enough acquainted to ask about the missing bag.

The girls felt a thrill of pride at their prominent position. Speaking
to one of the show people was next to being a real actor, but they had
to move on with the crowd which pressed around them.

Mr. Edmonds handed the beaming Laura a pretty book, which proved to be
an illustrated copy of the Pilgrim's Progress, and with a parting _au
revoir_, re-entered the box-office.

"Decidedly forward, keeping everyone back this way," said Mrs. Ramsey,
who was slightly in the rear, having waited to fasten Vera's hat.
"Alene Dawson is a bold piece! The idea of making everybody remove
their hats! I was glad I wore a close-fitting bonnet or I'd actually
have had to take mine off too. One can't be odd, you know!--Oh,
there's Mr. Dawson! Good evening! Why don't you call upon me to
chaperone Alene for you? She seems so forsaken, poor thing! I assure
you I'll take her gladly any time with my girls!"

"You are very kind, but to-night is a sort of a Club affair I believe!"

"Club affair!"

"Is it the Happy-Go-Luckys?" inquired Hermione with a smile.

"Yes, Alene came on their invitation."

"But to be out so late, going home alone!" gasped the lady.

"She is never alone! Half a dozen of the girls and boys intend
escorting her home to-night and, besides, you see I am not far in the
rear!"

"What a likely tale!" cried Mrs. Ramsey, as the crowd carried the
gentleman away. "As if the Lees or the Bonners could afford such an
expense! I'll wager Fred Dawson paid for them all; but then he's
always been odd--don't you remember that little foreigner he made such
a fuss over because Mrs. Truby had him arrested for stealing? He
actually spent a lot of money to get him off!"

"But the boy was innocent, mamma. Don't you remember how the lady
found the money a long time afterward, where she had hidden and
forgotten it?"

"But that is not the point--Fred Dawson didn't know he was innocent.
And there's old Miss Marlin, the best teacher of painting and the
languages in town--who charges outlandish prices because he upholds
her, and he actually gives her a house, rent free!"

"She is his old teacher and ver