in
vain--she could not think where she had put that two dollars' worth of
sugar!

And time was flying, the sun was setting--pretty soon the moon would be
up. How hungry the company must be, and they must wonder why supper
wasn't ready. It would never do to sit down to the table with an empty
sugar-bowl, for Aunt Wright always wanted her tea extra sweet, and
Uncle Wright never could drink coffee without his eight lumps in the
cup. Dear, dear! Aunt Ann was all in a flurry. _Why_ had she ever
undertaken to hide that sugar!

"I shall certainly have to send to the store for some more!" she said
to herself, "and that will take so long; but it can't be helped."

So she spoke to Teddy, who was sitting in the dining-room window
apparently studying his geography lesson, but in reality wondering what
in the world Aunt Ann was fluttering all over the house so uneasily
for.

"Run to the store, Teddy!" she said quickly; "get me half a dollar's
worth of loaf sugar as soon as ever you can."

"Why, Aunt Ann," he replied, "what for? I should think you had sugar
enough already."

"So I have!" she exclaimed, nervously. "I got two dollars' worth day
before yesterday, and I hid it away in a safe place to keep it from
you, and now, to save my life, I can't think where I put it, and I've
searched high and low. Hurry!"

Teddy smiled upon her benignly.

"You should have told me sooner what you were looking for," he said.
"That sugar is on the upper shelf of your wardrobe, in your muff-box in
the farther corner. It is _very_ nice sugar, Aunt Ann!"

"Sure enough!" she cried. "That is where I hid it, and covered it up
with my best bonnet and veil. And then, when I went calling, I wore my
bonnet and veil, and never once thought about the sugar. I suppose that
was when you found it, you bad boy."

"Yes 'm, I found it that time. I was looking for a string," he said;
"but I should have found it anyhow in a day or two, even if you hadn't
let sugar crumbs fall on the shelf, Aunt Ann!"

"I believe you, you terrible boy!" she rejoined. "Now go call the
company to tea."

And she did believe him, and would have given up the struggle from that
day, convinced that the fates were against her, but for her heroic
resolve to instill straightway into this young gentleman with his pa's
appetite the good principles of _her_ side of the family.

UNDER THE LILACS.

BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

CHAPTER IX.

A HAPPY TEA.

Exactly five minute