uiet little scuffle in a secluded corner.

"Come out here and let me have a look at you," she said enticingly, for
she predicted an explosion and public disgrace if peace was not speedily
restored.

Hastily smoothing themselves down, the young gentlemen presented three
flushed and merry countenances for inspection, feeling highly honored by
the command.

"Dear me, how you two have grown! You big things how dare you get head
of me in this way!" she said, standing on tiptoe to pat the curly pates
before her, for Will and Geordie had shot up like weeds, and now grinned
cheerfully down upon her as she surveyed them in comic amazement.

"The Campbells are all fine, tall fellows, and we mean to be the best of
the lot. Shouldn't wonder if we were six-footers like Grandpa," observed
Will proudly, looking so like a young Shanghai rooster, all legs and an
insignificant head, that Rose kept her countenance with difficulty.

"We shall broaden out when we get our growth. We are taller than Steve
now, a half a head, both of us," added Geordie, with his nose in the
air.

Rose turned to look at Steve and, with a sudden smile, beckoned to him.
He dropped his napkin and flew to obey the summons, for she was queen of
the hour, and he had openly announced his deathless loyalty.

"Tell the other boys to come here. I've a fancy to stand you all in a
row and look you over, as you did me that dreadful day when you nearly
frightened me out of my wits," she said, laughing at the memory of it as
she spoke.

They came in a body and, standing shoulder to shoulder, made such an
imposing array that the young commander was rather daunted for a moment.
But she had seen too much of the world lately to be abashed by a trifle,
and the desire to see a girlish test gave her courage to face the line
of smiling cousins with dignity and spirit.

"Now, I'm going to stare at you as you stared at me. It is my revenge on
you seven bad boys for entrapping one poor little girl and enjoying her
alarm. I'm not a bit afraid of you now, so tremble and beware!"

As she spoke, Rose looked up into Archie's face and nodded approvingly,
for the steady gray eyes met hers fairly and softened as they did so a
becoming change, for naturally they were rather keen than kind.

"A true Campbell, bless you!" she said, and shook his hand heartily as
she passed on.

Charlie came next, and here she felt less satisfied, though scarcely
conscious why, for, as she looked, the