ood deal more darn than stocking to that now," said the
younger sister. "It's a work of genius. I'll tell you, Phillida: we'll
take it to the picture framer's to-morrow and have it put under glass,
and then we'll get a prize for it as a specimen of fancy work at the
American Institute Fair. But now tell me, what did you have for dinner?
How many courses were there? Was there anybody else there? What sort of
china have they got? Do they keep a butler? How does Mr. Hilbrough take
to the new fixings? And, oh, say! are they going to give any parties?
And--"

"Give me a chance, Frisky, and I'll answer you," said Phillida, who
began at the beginning and told all that she could think of, even to
describing the doilies and finger-bowls.

"You said there was a gentleman there. Who was he?" said Agatha, the
younger.

"That Mr. Millard that Cousin Phil is so fond of. He is at Aunt
Harriet's often on Sunday evenings. He's a good looking young man,
dressed with the greatest neatness, and is very polite to everybody in
an easy way."

"Did he talk with you?"

"Not at first. He paid as much attention to Mrs. Hilbrough as he could
have paid to a queen; treating her with a great deal of deference. You
could see that she was pleased. Just think, he asked me if I liked
Wagner's music."

"How did you get out of it?"

"I didn't get out of it at all. I just told him I had never heard
anything of Wagner's. But when he found that I was Mrs. Gouverneur's
niece it made things all right with him, and he made as handsome a
speech about my great-grandfather and all the rest as Aunt Harriet could
have done herself."

"Wasn't Mrs. Hilbrough surprised to hear that you were somebody?"

"I don't know."

"Well, don't you think she was?"

"May be so."

"Didn't she seem pleased?"

"I think she was relieved, for my confession that I hadn't heard many
operas bothered her."

"You said Mr. Millard was polite. How was he polite?"

"He made you feel that he liked you, and admired you; I can't tell you
how. He didn't say a single flattering word to me, but when he promised
to meet Mrs. Hilbrough again, to arrange about the people she is to have
at the reception, he bowed to me and said, 'And Miss Callender, I
hope.'"

"I'll tell you what, Phillida, I'll bet he took a fancy to you."

"Nonsense, Agatha Callender; don't talk such stuff. He's been for years
in society, and knows all the fine people in New York."

"Nonsense, yourself, Phillida