nothing; at her neat nose, which had no
character; at her red lips, from between which no word worth listening
to had ever issued.

"Never mind!" said Emma Jane comfortingly. "Everybody says you're awful
bright and smart, and mother thinks you'll be better looking all the
time as you grow older. You wouldn't believe it, but I was a dreadful
homely baby, and homely right along till just a year or two ago, when
my red hair began to grow dark. What was the nice man's name?"

"I never thought to ask!" ejaculated Rebecca. "Aunt Miranda would say
that was just like me, and it is. But I called him Mr. Aladdin because
he gave us a lamp. You know the story of Aladdin and the wonderful
lamp?"

"Oh, Rebecca! how could you call him a nickname the very first time you
ever saw him?"

"Aladdin isn't a nickname exactly; anyway, he laughed and seemed to
like it."

By dint of superhuman effort, and putting such a seal upon their lips
as never mortals put before, the two girls succeeded in keeping their
wonderful news to themselves; although it was obvious to all beholders
that they were in an extraordinary and abnormal state of mind.

On Thanksgiving the lamp arrived in a large packing box, and was taken
out and set up by Seesaw Simpson, who suddenly began to admire and
respect the business ability of his sisters. Rebecca had heard the news
of its arrival, but waited until nearly dark before asking permission
to go to the Simpsons', so that she might see the gorgeous trophy
lighted and sending a blaze of crimson glory through its red crepe
paper shade.

XV

THE BANQUET LAMP

There had been company at the brick house to the bountiful Thanksgiving
dinner which had been provided at one o'clock,--the Burnham sisters,
who lived between North Riverboro and Shaker Village, and who for more
than a quarter of a century had come to pass the holiday with the
Sawyers every year. Rebecca sat silent with a book after the dinner
dishes were washed, and when it was nearly five asked if she might go
to the Simpsons'.

"What do you want to run after those Simpson children for on a
Thanksgiving Day?" queried Miss Miranda. "Can't you set still for once
and listen to the improvin' conversation of your elders? You never can
let well enough alone, but want to be forever on the move."

"The Simpsons have a new lamp, and Emma Jane and I promised to go up
and see it lighted, and make it a kind of a party."

"What under the canopy did they wan