!--Oh, oh!" gasped Dulce; and even Nan looked mildly
surprised.

"He will not make me give up my work until I choose," continued
Phillis, who was in an obstinate mood. "It is not make-believe
play-work, I can tell him that;" but Mrs. Challoner grew tearful at
this.

"Phillis, my dear, pray hush! Indeed--indeed I cannot have you talking
as though you meant and wished to be a dressmaker all your life."

And when Phillis asked, "Why not?" just for the sake of argument,--for
in her heart she was growing heartily sick of her employment,--her
mother threw up her hands in despair:

"Oh, my dear Miss Drummond, do not believe her: Phillis is a good
girl; but she is always like that,--hard to be convinced. She does not
really mean it. She has worked harder than any of them; but she has
only done it for her mother's sake."

"Of course she does not mean it," echoed Nan, affectionately, and much
struck by a sudden yearning look on Phillis's face,--an expression of
smothered pain; but Phillis drew away from her sister's gentle grasp.

"I do mean it!" she said, almost passionately. "I am dreadfully tired
of the work sometimes, and hate it. Oh, how I hate it! But I think I
have been happy, too. I liked the excitement of the fighting, and the
novelty of the thing; it was such fun,--first shocking people, and
then winning them over in spite of themselves. One felt 'plucky,' as
Harry said. And then one's friends were so real." And her eyes fell
unconsciously on Mattie.

"Oh, yes," returned Mattie, with her usual gush: "Archie and I took to
you from the first. I must say I was surprised, knowing how fastidious
Archie was, and his notions about young ladies in general. But, dear,
he never would hear a word against you: he was even angry with Colonel
Middleton the other day because--but there! I ought not to have told
you that."

"Oh, we know all about it," returned Phillis, carelessly; but Dulce's
bright face looked a little overcast. "Son Hammond is in the case; and
we can all judge of a father's feelings by a certain example that
shall be nameless. Good gracious, mammie! there comes the Alcides
himself, and Dorothy has not cleared the tea-things! I vote we meet
him in the garden, to avert breakages." And Phillis's proposition was
carried out.

But when they were all seated in the little parlor again, and the lamp
was brought, sundry packages made their appearence, and were
delightedly unpacked by the girls, Phillis assisting w