mselves, when they heard their own names mentioned in such a
sneering manner? Daisy certainly meant no harm by it; she paused,
thoughtfully and curiously, as any one would have done.

"I am sure I don't like it," Gertie was saying, spitefully. "It is an
actual shame allowing Daisy Brooks to remain here. Uncle Jet was a
mean old thing to send her here, where there were three marriageable
young ladies. I tell you he did it out of pure spite."

"I believe it," answered Bess, spiritedly. "Every one of my beaus
either hints for an introduction or asks for it outright."

"What do you tell them?" questions Gertie, eagerly.

"Tell them! Why, I look exceedingly surprised, replying: 'I do not
know to whom you refer. We have no company at the house just now.' 'I
mean that beautiful, golden-haired little fairy, with the rosy cheeks
and large blue eyes. If not your guest, may I ask who she is?' I am
certainly compelled to answer so direct a thrust," continued Bess,
angrily; "and I ask in well-feigned wonder: 'Surely you do not mean
Daisy Brooks, my mother's paid companion?'"

"What do they say to that?" asked Gertie, laughing heartily at her
elder sister's ingenuity, and tossing her curl papers until every curl
threatened to tumble down. "That settles it, doesn't it?"

"Mercy, no!" cried Bess, raising her eyebrows; "not a bit of it. The
more I say against her--in a sweet way, of course--the more they are
determined to form her acquaintance."

"I don't see what every one can see in that little pink-and-white
baby-face of hers to rave over so!" cried Gertie, hotly. "I can't
imagine where in the world people see her. I have as much as told her
she was not expected to come into the parlor or drawing-room when
strangers were there, and what do you suppose she said?"

"Cried, perhaps," said Bess, yawning with ennui.

"She did nothing of the kind," retorted Gertie. "She seized my hand,
and said: 'Oh, Miss Gertrude, that is very kind of you, indeed! I
thank you ever so much!'"

"Pshaw!" cried Bess, contemptuously. "That was a trick to make you
believe she did not want to be observed by our guests. She is a sly,
designing little creature, with her pretty face and soft, childish
ways."

"But there is one point that seriously troubles me," said Gertie,
fastening the pink satin bow on her tiny slipper more securely, and
breaking off the thread with a nervous twitch. "I am seriously afraid,
if Rex were to see her, that would be the