.

"Dick! oh, Dick!" in an alarmed voice from Dulce. And Phillis flew to
the great carved wardrobe, that Sir Harry was ransacking; while Nan
vainly strove to rescue the fashion-books that Dick was now flinging
into the fender.

"Oh, you great Goth! You stupid, ridiculous Harry!" observed Phillis,
scornfully, while the rolls of silk and satin and yards of trimming
were tossed lightly into a heap of _debris_.

Laddie was growling and choking over the buttons. Dorothy afterwards
carried away a whole shovelful of pins and hooks and eyes.

Nan sat down by her mother and folded her hands on her lap. When men
were masterful, it was time for maidens to sit still. Dulce really
looked frightened; but Phillis presently broke into a laugh.

"This is a parable of nature," she said. "Mammie, does your head ache?
Would you like to go into the next room?"

"There, we have about done!" observed Sir Harry. "The place is pretty
well clear: isn't it, Mayne?" And, as Dick nodded a cheerful assent,
he shut the door of the wardrobe, locked it, and, with much solemnity,
put the key in his pocket. "Now for my parable," he said. "Aunt
Catherine, you will excuse a bit of a spree, but one must take the
high hand with these girls. I have bundled out the whole lot of
trumpery; but, as head of this family, I am not going to stand any
more of this nonsense."

"Oh, indeed!" put in Phillis. "I hope Mrs. Squails will take her
creased gown! Dulce, the sewing-machine is right on the top of it,--a
most improving process, certainly."

"Now, Phillis, you will just shut up with your nonsense! As head of
the family, I am not going to stand any more of this sort of thing."

"What sort of thing?" asked Mrs. Challoner, timidly. "My dears, I
thought it was only fun; but I do believe your cousin is in earnest."

"I am quite in earnest, Aunt Catherine," returned Sir Harry, sitting
down beside her, and taking her hand. "I hope our bit of larking has
not been too much for you; but that fellow vowed it would be a good
joke." Here Dick's eyes twinkled. "If Mrs. Squails's gown is spoiled,
I will buy her another; but on your peril, girls, if you put a stitch
in any but your own from this day forward!"

"Please your honor, kindly," whined Phillis, dropping a courtesy, "and
what will your honor have us do?"

"Do!" and then he broke into a laugh. "Oh, I will tell you that
presently. All I know is, Nan is engaged to my friend Mayne here; and
I have promised his