her oughtn't to ask people here if we
haven't a room fit to ask them into. You see we _must_ use the
drawing-room."

"What for?"

"Why, for tea, of course, for one thing."

"Oh!" cried Faith, "don't let's have a dotted-around-the-room tea!
The children make such a mess with their crumbs, they can't help it, and
they are sure to upset their cups, and drop their plates--and we shall be
in one big worry all the time. They hate those teas, and so do I!
Let's have a nice comfortable one in the dining-room, and sit up to
table."

"And spend all the rest of the time there too, I suppose?" sarcastically.

Faith looked pained. "Well, I don't suppose they would mind very much if
we did, as long as we were all jolly and happy. They seemed so kind and
friendly, and not a bit stuck up."

"Oh," cried Audrey impatiently, "you seem to think anything will do,
as long as you are happy and jolly. You don't realise what other people
are accustomed to, and expect."

"I think I am glad I don't," said Faith gravely, "it only seems to worry
one."

"I do wish you would keep your blind straight in your bedroom," retorted
Audrey irritably, "no house could possibly look nice with the blinds all
anyhow, as ours are."

"Um, yes, they do look bad, we ought to have sticks for them, tape is
always getting loose. Audrey," eagerly, "suppose we take our tea up on
the moor, and have a kind of picnic, when the Vivians come. Wouldn't that
be rather jolly?"

Audrey's face brightened. "Yes, that might be a good plan. They would
not be in the house much then."

"Mother would want to see them."

"Would she? Oh, well, she could. I'd like them to know mother--and her
room is quite presentable. We shall have to get some nice cakes.
I wonder if we have any baskets that will do to carry the things in?
And oh! I do hope that Mary will wash the cups and saucers properly that
day. She is so horribly careless, one can't trust her the least little
bit. I always have to look at my cup before I drink, to see if it is
clean."

Faith looked at her with troubled eyes. "The best plan would be to wash
them all yourself that day," she suggested, "then you would be sure they
would be all right, and have quite a load off your mind. You can easily
offer to wash the dishes and things for Mary, because she will have extra
work to do, and then you can put aside those that we shall want in the
afternoon. I will go and look out the baskets by and by. D