continual merry nonsense that seemed to possess the girls
that night.

"Ernestine's going to run away," announced Kittie, presently, with some
abruptness; but no one but Bea, who was on the alert, saw how her mother
started, with a force that ran her needle clear under her thumb nail, or
how excessively pale she was as she wiped off the little drops of blood.

"That I am," laughed Ernestine gayly. "Some of these fine mornings I'll
be gone, and you'll find a touching little note on my pin-cushion; and
after I've earned piles of glory and money, I'll come back in an elegant
carriage, and set you all up in luxury."

Everybody laughed, and professed much impatience for the delightful time
to arrive; but Mrs. Dering pushed her sewing aside with an impatient
hand that trembled, and proposed that Ernestine sing for them, which she
immediately did, with a bewildering bird-like witchery, that held them
all entranced, and made the girls sigh more than once, that some of the
flute-like tones had not been given to them, as their talent.

Mrs. Dering's last look and words, when she left next morning, were for
Ernestine, who looked languid and pale in the sunshine, with all her
radiant sparkle and color gone, and no sound or look of song about her
lips; and after the hack had gone, and the girls returned to the house,
Kat said to Kittie, with much resentment in her voice:

"Ernestine always was the petted one in this family. Just see how
anxious mama is about her having a little spring fever, and what an easy
time she has, anyhow. Only two music scholars! I guess we've got the
spring fever just as bad as she has, but we have to work just as hard as
ever, and I don't think it is fair."

And Kittie, notwithstanding she had some such thoughts herself, answered
promptly:

"Well, I suppose there's a reason of some kind, because you know Kat,
mama never would do anything unfair. Perhaps she thinks Ernestine is
more delicate than we are."

"Delicate--fiddlesticks! I've three minds to believe it's because she's
got such big brown eyes and yellow hair, and is so--well--so--"

"Ain't you ashamed," interrupted Kittie, slamming down her dishes. "To
hint at such a thing, Kat Dering!"

The very next evening that brought Mrs. Dering home, brought her with a
proposition for Ernestine to go into the country for a week or two,
giving her two pupils a vacation for that length of time. Perhaps it
occurred to each of the girls that they neede