tie comes out of curiosity. How I do
detest a fussy woman, with a tongue that chatters faster than a
purling brook! What do you say? No harm in her?" for Phillis had
muttered something to this effect. "Oh, that is negative praise! I
like people to have a little harm in them: it is so much more
amusing."

"I cannot say I am of your opinion," returned Phillis, coldly: she was
rather ashamed of her fit of enthusiasm, and cross in consequence.

"My dear, I always thought Lucifer must have been rather an
interesting person." Then, as Phillis looked scandalized, and drew
herself up, she said, in a funny voice, "Now, don't tell your mother
what I said, or she will think me an improper character; and I want to
be introduced to her."

"You want to be introduced to my mother!" Phillis could hardly believe
her ears. Certainly Mrs. Cheyne was a most inexplicable person.

"Dressmakers don't often have mothers, do they?" returned Mrs. Cheyne,
with a laugh; "at least, they are never on view. I suppose they are in
the back premises doing something?"

"Shelling peas, for example," replied Phillis, roused to mischief by
this: "that is mother's work this morning. Dorothy is old and
single-handed, and needs all the help we can give her. Oh, yes! I will
take you to her at once."

"Indeed you must not, if it will inconvenience her!" returned Mrs.
Cheyne, drawing back a little at this. She was full of curiosity to
see the mother of these singular girls, but she did not wish to have
her illusion too roughly dispelled; and the notion of Mrs. Challoner's
homely employment grated a little on the feelings of the fine lady who
had never done anything useful in her life.

"Oh, nothing puts mother out!" returned Phillis, in an indifferent
tone. The old spirit of fun was waking up in her, and she led the way
promptly to the parlor.

"Mother, Mrs. Cheyne wishes to see you," she announced, in a most
matter-of-fact voice, as though that lady were a daily visitor.

Mrs. Challoner looked up in a little surprise. One of Dorothy's rough
aprons was tied over her nice black gown, and the yellow earthenware
bowl was on her lap. Phillis took up some of the green pods, and began
playing with them.

"Will you excuse my rising?--you see my employment," observed Mrs.
Challoner, with a smile that was almost as charming as Nan's; and she
held out a white soft hand to her visitor.

The perfect ease of her manner, the absence of all flurry, produced an
in