, undertook to persuade Doctor
Chocker to blow the whistle. He had first to give a digest of Mr.
Pfeiffer's speech into the ear-trumpet, and, it is feared, would have
failed to bring the Doctor round without Miss Pix, who came up at the
critical moment, and told him that she knew he must have known how when
he was a boy, accompanied with such persuasive frolicking that the
Doctor at once signified his consent and his proficiency by blowing a
blast into Nicholas's ear, whom he regarded as a special enemy on good
terms with him, to the great merriment of all.

The signal was given, and the company looked at Miss Pix, awaiting their
turn with anxious solicitude. The symphony passed off quite well, though
Mr. Le Clear, who managed the drum, was the only one who kept perfect
time. Mrs. Starkey, who held the rattle aloft, sprung it at the first
sound of the music, and continued to spring it in spite of the
expostulations and laughter of the others. Mrs. Manlius, unable to
follow Miss Pix's excited gestures, turned to her husband, and uttered
the cuckoo's doleful note whenever he blew his trumpet, which he did
deliberately at regular intervals. The effect, however, was admirable;
and as the entire company was in the orchestra, the mutual satisfaction
was perfect, and the piece was encored vociferously, to the delight of
little Miss Pix, who enjoyed without limit the melting of her company,
which was now going on rapidly. It continued even when the music had
stopped, and Gretchen, very red, but intensely interested, brought in
some coffee and cakes, which she distributed under Miss Pix's direction.
Nicholas shared the good lady's pleasure, and addressed himself to his
aunt with increased attention, taking good care to avoid Doctor Chocker,
who submitted more graciously than would be supposed to a steady play
from Mr. Manlius' hose. Mr. Pfeiffer and his three musical friends made
themselves merry with Mrs. Manlius and Miss Pix, while Mr. Le Clear
walked about performing chemical experiments upon the whole company.

And now Miss Pix, who had been all the while glowing more and more with
sunshine in her face, again addressed the company, and said:--

"I think the best thing should be kept till toward the end; and I've got
a scheme that I want you all to help me in. We're all neighbors
here,"--and she looked round upon the company with a smile that grew
broader, while they all looked surprised, and began to smile back in
ignorant