g chin coming up the front steps.

"The rush has begun," murmured Cora.

"Amelie can have him," Dora returned. "Let's fly."

They retreated up-stairs and read peacefully until tea-time. The bell
did not ring again. When they came down, Mrs. Baldwin eyed them
irritably.

"Why don't you ask the Carryl boys in to Sunday tea some time? They will
think you have forgotten them. And Mr. White and that nice Mr. Morton
who lives with him--I am afraid you have offended them in some way. They
used to be here all the time."

"They only came twice, and those were party calls," said Dora bluntly.

"My dear, you have forgotten," was the firm answer. "They were here
constantly. I shall send them a line; I don't like to have them think we
have gone back on them."

"Oh, I--I wouldn't," began Cora, but was put down with decision:

"When I need your advice, Cora, I will ask for it. Amelie, dear, you
look tired; I am afraid you have had too much gaiety this afternoon."

"Oh, I love it! It's the breath of life to me," said Amelie
rapturously. The twins again exchanged solemn looks and sat down to
their tea in silence. Mrs. Baldwin attacked them peevishly at intervals;
she was cross at Enid also, who had not kept Harry to supper, and
preserved an indifferent silence under questioning. "When I was your
age--!" was the burden of her speech.

"I must give a dance for you young people," she decided. "You need
livening up."

"Oh, lovely!" exclaimed Amelie.

"We have not had one this winter--I don't know what I have been thinking
about," Mrs. Baldwin went on with returning cheerfulness. "We won't ask
more than a hundred. You must have a new frock, Amelie. Enid, how is
your blue one?"

"Oh, all right," said Enid indifferently. Mrs. Baldwin turned to the
twins, and found them looking frankly dismayed.

"Well, what is it now?" she exclaimed. "I am sure I try to give you as
good times as any girls in town; not many mothers on my income would do
half so much. And you sit looking as if you were going to execution!"

"We--we do appreciate it, mother," urged Cora, unhappily.

"But we aren't howling successes at parties," Dora added.

"Nonsense! You have partners to spare." Mrs. Baldwin was plainly angry.
"No child of mine was ever a wallflower, nor ever will be. Never let me
hear you say such a thing again. You would have twice the attention if
you weren't always poking off by yourselves; and as it is, you have more
than most girls. Yo