re surprised.

"You see, nieces," said Aunt Betty, "this is a special occasion, and I
give you my very best."

"This china's almost too lovely to use," said Grace warmly. "I don't
know as I shall dare to touch it!"

"It's all beautiful!" said Jenny eagerly; "I do love to eat off dainty
dishes. Did Sam arrange the table?"

"Yes," said Aunt Betty, "Sam did everything."

"Well, he's just a wonder!" said Grace. "I wish we could ever have a
table like this in our house--but then we haven't any such things to
put on it," she added, with a sigh.

"I only hope," said Ruth ruefully, "that I shall not break anything.
Auntie, you ought to have set me in a corner by myself with kitchen
dishes to use; I deserve it for my clumsiness."

"Well, niece!" said Aunt Betty, with a rather anxious look, "I hope
you'll be on your good behavior to-day, for I value every piece above
gold."

"I know you do," said Ruth anxiously, "and that's what scares me."

While they were talking, Sam had served each one with a plate on which
lay a small slice of fish, browned to perfection and temptingly hot.
Each girl took a small taste, and then began picking at the food
daintily with her fork, but not eating. Grace raised her napkin to her
lips, and surreptitiously removed from her mouth the morsel she had
taken. Jenny heroically swallowed, and then hastily drank from her
glass, while Ruth quietly took the morsel from her mouth, deposited it
on her plate, and took no more.

Aunt Betty apparently did not observe all this, but in a moment,
seeing that they were toying with the food on their plates, asked
quietly, "What's the matter? Why do you not eat?"

"I don't care much for fish," said Grace, in her most polite manner,
and, "I beg your pardon, aunt," said Jenny, in apparent confusion,
"but I must confess to having had some candy this morning, and I'm
afraid I haven't much appetite; the fish is fine, I'm sure."

"And you, Ruth?" asked her aunt.

Ruth hesitated.

"I want the truth, niece," Aunt Betty went on; "you know I always want
the honest truth."

"Indeed, Aunt Betty," began Grace, "I'm sure"--She paused, and Jenny
broke in, "I'm awfully sorry, Aunt Betty"--But Ruth, while a deep
blush rose to her honest face, said in a low tone, "Auntie--I'm sorry
to have to tell you--but I think the fish had been kept a little too
long."

Jenny and Grace looked at her in amazement, expecting some burst of
indignation from Aunt Betty.

But she o