l be pleased to see
any ladies who may care to call upon her.' What do you think of that
for a start?"

Betty stared in amazement. "Governesses! Three Homes! Three to seven!
How _dreadful_! What will you do with them?"

"Oh! I've lots of plans. I'll have a scrumptious light, cakey tea in
the drawing-room, and in the dining-room a sort of cold high-tea as they
have in the North, with chickens, and ham, and potted shrimps, and
sandwiches, and all sorts of good things for those who can stay until
six, and sit down to a regular meal. And I'll have nice books and
magazines in the library, and easy-chairs drawn up to the fire; and up
here, anyone who likes can practise wood-carving, or copper beating, or
any of my little hobbies. I'll throw open the whole house, and let each
one do what she likes best; and you shall help me! I've got another
girl coming on Saturday, and between the three of us we ought to be able
to manage. I don't ask you to come, you see,--I command! I need your
help."

Betty hesitated between pride and dismay.

"I can't imagine myself entertaining a party of govies! I am still
under their thrall, remember. You are emancipated, so it's different
for you. But I'll come, of course I'll come. How many visitors do you
expect?"

"That's just what cook asked, and I hadn't a notion what to say. I
don't suppose we shall have many the first time. Only the enterprising
spirits will come, but when they go back and say what a good time they
have had, the numbers will increase. Do you think perhaps--twenty
altogether?"

"Say a dozen!" said Betty, and Nan's face lengthened with
disappointment.

"Only a dozen? Oh, surely there must be more than that! Just think;
there are three Homes, and I expect forty or fifty living in each. I am
quite sure there will be twenty. I shall provide for twenty-five, to be
on the safe side."

She bent forward to poke the fire once more, and Betty's eyes roamed to
the white overmantel, which was divided into five panels, each of which
contained a vignette portrait of a girl's head, printed in a delicate
shade of brown. She had seen much the same kind of thing in furniture
warehouses again and again, but in this case the pictured faces lacked
the pretty prettiness which was the usual characteristic, and were
unmistakably portraits of living people. She looked at her hostess with
an eager question.

"Your sisters?"

"Yes; isn't it lovely? They clubbed to