you America was a sizable place. You'll begin to take in
and understand the meaning of the variety show after you once get over
there."

"It was queer, but do you know I couldn't help rather liking that girl;"
confessed Imogen later to Isabel Templestowe. "She was odd, of course,
and not a bit English, but you couldn't say she was bad form, and she
was so remarkably quick and bright. It seemed as if she had seen all
sorts of things and tried her hand on almost everything, and wasn't a
bit afraid to say what she thought, or to praise and find fault. I told
you what she said about English bread, and she was just as rude about
our vegetables; she said they were only flavored with hot water. What do
you suppose she meant?"

"I believe they cook them quite differently in America. Geoff likes
their way, and found a great deal of fault when he was at home with the
cauliflower and the Brussels sprouts. He declared that they had no
taste, and that mint in green-peas killed the flavor. Clover was too
polite to say anything, but I could see that she thought the same. Mamma
was quite put about with Geoff's new notions."

"I must say that it seems rather impertinent and forth-putting for a new
nation like that to be setting up opinions of its own, and finding
fault with the good old English customs," said Imogen, petulantly.

"Well, I don't know," replied Isabel; "we have made some changes
ourselves. John of Gaunt or Harry Hotspur might find fault with us for
the same reason, giving up the 'good old customs' of rushes on the
floor, for instance, and flagons of ale for breakfast. There were the
stocks and the pillory too, and hanging for theft, and the torture of
prisoners. Those were all in use more or less when the Pilgrims went to
America, and I'm sure we're all glad that they were given up. The world
must move, and I suppose it's but natural that the new nations should
give it its impulse."

"England is good enough for me," replied the practical Imogen. "I don't
want to be instructed by new countries. It's like a child in a pinafore
trying to teach its grandmother how to do things. Now, dear Isabel, let
me hear about your mother's parcels."

Mrs. Templestowe had wisely put her gifts into small compass. There were
two dainty little frocks for her grandson, and a jacket of her own
knitting, two pairs of knickerbocker stockings for Geoff, and for Clover
a bit of old silver which had belonged to a Templestowe in the time of
t