nd
not knowing anyone!"

"That is not a proper way in which to speak of your hostess, my son,"
said Mr. Hazeltine.

"How did you happen to get acquainted with her?" asked Aunt Zelie,
smiling at Carl's vehemence.

"Auntie, it was the funniest thing you ever heard of!" Louise
exclaimed. "She tripped him up with a croquet mallet!"

"She must have been desperate," remarked her father, pulling one of
the long braids that hung over her shoulder.

"She did not mean to do it--it was when I was running after Aleck--and
she was very sorry. Then I found she didn't know anybody, so I went
for Bess, and she had a good time after that," Carl explained briefly.

"She has lived in London, and different places abroad," Bess added.

"May we go to see her, auntie? We told her we would if you'd let us."

"Louise, you should never promise to visit people till you know
something about them," said Aunt Marcia reprovingly.

"Her name is Dora Warner, and she boards with her mother at Mrs.
West's on Chestnut street, and her father is dead. I think we know a
good deal about her, Aunt Marcia," Bess said demurely.

"I am going to see her, and take her a chocolate mouse," Carie
suddenly announced, having been a silent listener while she captured a
handful of mice.

"I want to know what it is you like so much about your new friend,"
said Uncle William.

"What do you think of her, Helen?" his wife asked of the little girl,
sitting so quietly beside her.

"Oh, I like her, Aunt Marcia, ever so much. She asked _me_ to come to
see her, and she is older than Bess."

"There is no nonsense about her," said Carl.

"I think it is hard to tell why you like people." Bess twisted her
handkerchief meditatively. "She isn't exactly pretty, but she is
pleasant and polite--"

"Yes, and she is ready to do anything, and doesn't think about her
clothes," Carl interposed.

"Boys think about their clothes as well as girls," said Louise. "I
know lots of girls who don't think about their clothes."

"So do I--some who have no regard whatever for them," said Aunt Zelie,
laughing.

"Do you know I like the description they give of Dora," remarked Mr.
William Hazeltine, after the children had left the room.

"I never knew Carl to be so warm in the praise of a new acquaintance,"
said his brother. "You will have to let them go to see her, Zelie."

"Pray, do not be rash; find out who they are first," begged Mrs.
Hazeltine.

"I can't help thinking," said