stration]

Elizabeth Eliza sighed with relief as she filled his cup. It was going
off well. There were cups enough, but she was not sure she could live
over another such hour of anxiety; and what was to be done after tea?

THE PETERKINS TOO LATE FOR THE EXHIBITION.

_Dramatis Personae._--Amanda (friend of Elizabeth Eliza), Amanda's
mother, girls of the graduating class, Mrs. Peterkin, Elizabeth Eliza.

AMANDA [_coming in with a few graduates_].

Mother, the exhibition is over, and I have brought the whole class
home to the collation.

MOTHER.--The whole class! But I only expected a few.

AMANDA.--The rest are coming. I brought Julie, and Clara, and Sophie
with me. [_A voice is heard._] Here are the rest.

MOTHER.--Why, no. It is Mrs. Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza!

AMANDA.--Too late for the exhibition. Such a shame! But in time for
the collation.

MOTHER [_to herself_].--If the ice-cream will go round.

_Amanda._--But what made you so late? Did you miss the train? This is
Elizabeth Eliza, girls,--you have heard me speak of her. What a pity
you were too late!

MRS. PETERKIN.--We tried to come; we did our best.

MOTHER.--Did you miss the train? Didn't you get my postal-card?

MRS. PETERKIN.--We had nothing to do with the train.

AMANDA.--You don't mean you walked?

MRS. PETERKIN.--Oh, no, indeed!

ELIZABETH ELIZA.--We came in a horse and carryall.

JULIA.--I always wondered how anybody could come in a horse!

AMANDA.--You are too foolish, Julie. They came in the carryall part.
But didn't you start in time?

MRS. PETERKIN.--It all comes from the carryall being so hard to turn.
I told Mr. Peterkin we should get into trouble with one of those
carryalls that don't turn easy.

ELIZABETH ELIZA.--They turn easy enough in the stable, so you can't
tell.

MRS. PETERKIN.--Yes; we started with the little boys and Solomon John
on the back seat, and Elizabeth Eliza on the front. She was to drive,
and I was to see to the driving. But the horse was not faced toward
Boston.

MOTHER.--And you tipped over in turning round! Oh, what an accident!

AMANDA.--And the little boys,--where are they? Are they killed?

ELIZABETH ELIZA.--The little boys are all safe. We left them at the
Pringles', with Solomon John.

MOTHER.--But what did happen?

MRS. PETERKIN.--We started the wrong way.

MOTHER.--You lost your way, after all?

ELIZABETH ELIZA.--No; we knew the way well enough.

AMANDA.--It's as plain as