n, leaning on his goldheaded cane and watching the four lads as
they scattered and left the room; "and so this is the end of act the
first, I suppose. Miss, miss, miss, ah that's the syllable that begins
the new word."

Evelyn now came in with an umbrella in her hand, Grace and Rose Lacey
walking a little in her rear. Evelyn raised the umbrella and turning to
the little girls, said pleasantly, "Come under, children, I can't keep
the rain off you unless you are under the umbrella." They accepted the
invitation and the three moved slowly back and forth across the room
several times.

"It's a nice sort of shelter to be under when it rains," remarked Rose
Lacey.

"Yes, I like to be under it," said Grace.

"But it is wearisome to walk all the time; let us stand still for a
little," proposed Evelyn.

"Yes; by that stand yonder," said Grace.

They went to it and stationed themselves there for a moment; then Grace
stepped from under the umbrella and seated herself on the carpet under
the stand.

"Look, look!" laughed Rose Lacey, "there's Miss Grace Raymond under the
stand; a miss-under-stand."

A storm of applause, and cries of "Well done, little ones! Very prettily
done indeed!" and Gracie, rosy with blushes, came out from her retreat
and ran to hide her face on her father's shoulder, while he held her
close with one arm, softly smoothing her curls with the other hand.

"Don't be disturbed, darling," he said; "it is only kind commendation of
the way in which Rosie and you have acted your parts."

"Why you should feel proud and happy, Gracie," said Zoe, drawing near.
"We are going to have that tableau now in which you are to be a little
flower girl. So come, won't you? and let me help you dress."

Tableaux filled up the rest of the morning.

After dinner Harold and Herbert gave an exhibition of tricks of
legerdemain, which even the older people found interesting and amusing.
The little ones were particularly delighted with a marvellous shower of
candy that ended the performance.

Some of Cousin Ronald's stories of the heroes of Scottish history and
song made the evening pass delightfully.

But at an early hour the whole company, led by Grandpa Dinsmore, united
in a short service of prayer, praise, and the reading of the scriptures,
and at its close the guests bade good-bye and scattered to their homes.

"Well," said Max, following the rest of the family into the parlor,
after they had seen the last guest depa