whether
all could sit down.

Old Mr. and Mrs. Bromwick came. They thought it would not be
neighborly to stay away. They insisted on getting into the most
uncomfortable seats.

Yet there seemed to be seats enough while the Gibbons boys preferred
to stand. But they never could sit round a tea-table. Elizabeth Eliza
had thought they all might have room at the table, and Solomon John
and the little boys could help in the waiting.

It was a great moment when the lady from Philadelphia arrived with her
daughters. Mr. Peterkin was talking to Mr. Bromwick, who was a little
deaf. The Gibbons boys retreated a little farther behind the parlor
door. Mrs. Peterkin hastened forward to shake hands with the lady from
Philadelphia, saying:--

"Four Gibbons girls and Mary Osborne's aunt,--that makes nineteen; and
now"--

It made no difference what she said; for there was such a murmuring of
talk that any words suited. And the lady from Philadelphia wanted to
be introduced to the Bromwicks.

It was delightful for the little boys. They came to Elizabeth Eliza,
and asked:--

"Can't we go and ask more? Can't we fetch the Larkins?"

"Oh, dear, no!" answered Elizabeth Eliza. "I can't even count them."

Mrs. Peterkin found time to meet Elizabeth Eliza in the side entry, to
ask if there were going to be cups enough.

"I have set Agamemnon in the front entry to count,"' said Elizabeth
Eliza, putting her hand to her head.

The little boys came to say that the Maberlys were coming.

"The Maberlys!" exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza. "I never asked them."

"It is your father's doing," cried Mrs. Peterkin. "I do believe he
asked everybody he saw!" And she hurried back to her guests.

"What if father really has asked everybody?" Elizabeth Eliza said to
herself, pressing her head again with her hand.

There were the cow and the pig. But if they all took tea or coffee, or
both, the cups could _not_ go round.

Agamemnon returned in the midst of her agony.

[Illustration: MRS. PETERKIN'S TEA-PARTY.--Page 76.]

He had not been able to count the guests, they moved about so, they
talked so; and it would not look well to appear to count.

"What shall we do?" exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza.

"We are not a family for an emergency," said Agamemnon.

"What do you suppose they did in Philadelphia at the Exhibition, when
there were more people than cups and saucers?" asked Elizabeth Eliza.
"Could not you go and inquire? I know the lady from Philadelph