ay
for her health. This would have been very pleasant, only Julia went with
her mother, and little Flaxie was always troublesome without Julia.

Mrs. Prim had said that morning to Dora that she would go into the
pantry and make three apple-pies, for she knew how to make them better
than Dora; and then she must finish writing her lecture on Ancient
History. And now Flaxie Frizzle had come and asked for a party! Mrs.
Prim was called a "superior woman," and knew more than almost anybody
else in town except the minister; but she did think children very
trying, and their parties "perfectly absurd." Besides, Flaxie wasn't her
own niece.

"O auntie, auntie!" cried the little tease, coming back again, with
Milly at her heels, "we've got to go and invite 'em!"

"Certainly; and why don't you go, then?"

"Don' know how; please tell us how," said Flaxie, clutching Mrs. Prim by
the skirt, and wishing there was a hinge in that lady somewhere, so she
could bend.

"Don't know how? Just go to the houses, child, and ask the little girls'
mothers."

"O auntie, we don't want the little girls' mothers!"

"No, no; ask the mothers to let their little daughters come here to tea;
that's what I mean."

Then Auntie Prim made out a list of ten little girls, for the table
would seat twelve, and she wanted the party large enough to please
Flaxie. She thought she would make some of her own delicious tarts and a
nice sponge roll, and Dora might mix White Mountain cake and boil a
tongue. Mrs. Prim meant to be very kind, though she was sure, if she had
had any little girls of her own, they would never have had any parties!

"Now, be sure to say I want the children to come early--at half-past
two."

"Yes um!" And the little messengers danced out of the house.

"Flaxie," said Mrs. Prim, rapping on the pantry window with the
egg-beater, "are you sure you heard what I said?"

"Yes um."

"What time did I set?"

"Ha' pas' two."

"Very well.--And I shall be thankful when it is over," sighed the poor
lady, taking down the spice-box.

But wasn't it gay times for the twin cousins, who had all the fun and
none of the worry! I wish I were a little girl, just going to have a
party, don't you? They didn't stop to look at the beautiful trees, with
their bright October leaves, or at the sky, with its soft white clouds;
they hopped along, their arms around each other's waist, keeping time to
the happy thoughts in their hearts.

"Oh, Milly, aren't