face and dancing eyes, which certainly
showed no trace of weariness.

But after luncheon she said: "Now, Midget, you must go to your room, and
lie down for half an hour. Close your eyes, and rest even if you do not
sleep."

Midget drew a long sigh, and walked slowly off to obey. She lay down on
her own little white bed, but though she managed to close her eyes for
nearly half a minute, they then flew wide open.

"Mother!" she called out. "I can't keep my eyes shut, unless I pin them.
Shall I do that?"

"Don't be foolish, Marjorie," called back Mrs. Maynard, from her own
room. "Go to sleep."

"But, Mother, I can't go to sleep. I'm as wide-awake as a--a weasel.
Mother, what time are you going to the fair?"

"At four o'clock. Now, be quiet, Marjorie, and don't ask any more
questions."

"No'm. But, Mother, mayn't I get up now? I've been here nearly six or
seven hours."

"It isn't six or seven minutes, yet. You must stay there half an hour,
so you may as well make your mind up to it."

"Yes'm; I've made up my mind. But I think this clock has stopped. It
hasn't moved but a teenty, taunty speck in all these hours. What time is
it by your clock, Mother?"

"Marjorie! You'll drive me distracted! Will you be still?"

"Yes'm, if you'll let me come in your room. May I, Mother? I'll just lie
still on your couch, and I won't speak. I'll just look at you. You know
you're so pretty, Mother."

Mrs. Maynard stifled a laugh.

"Come on, then," she called. "I simply can't yell like this any longer."

"I should think not," said Marjorie, as she appeared in her mother's
doorway. "My throat's exhausted, too."

"Now, remember," said Mrs. Maynard, "you said you'd be quiet in here.
Lie down on the couch, and put the afghan over you, and go to sleep."

"I'll lie down on the couch,--so," said Marjorie, suiting the action to
the word; "and I'll put the afghan over me,--so; but I can't go to
sleep--because I can't."

"Well, shut your eyes, and try to go to sleep; and, at any rate, stop
talking."

"Yes'm; I'll try." Marjorie squeezed her eyes tightly shut, and in a
moment she began to talk in a droning voice. "I'm asleep now, Mother,
thank you. I'm having a lovely nap. I'm just talking in my sleep, you
know. Nobody can help that, can they?"

"No; but they can't expect to be answered. So, talk in your sleep if you
choose, but keep your eyes shut."

"Oh, dear, that's the hardest part! Oh, Mother, I've such a good idea!
Mayn't