"Children, children, what is all this racket about?" asked a gentle,
grieved voice, suddenly, and the shamed-faced trio wheeled to find the
pale, little, invalid mother standing in their midst.

"Oh, mother, mayn't I go? Faith says I can't, but you promised me when
Mr. Kane went away that I could go to the next reception if I would make
no more fuss about not going to his."

"So I did, dear--"

"But a reception for a new minister is no place for such little girls,
mother," broke in Faith, petulantly.

"The 'nouncements said to bring the _babies_"--involuntarily the mother
smiled and the other sisters giggled. "I am lots bigger than a baby--"

"You don't act it--"

"Faith!" The mother's face was as reproving as her voice, and the older
girl's cheeks flushed crimson as she murmured humbly, "I am sorry,
mother; but really, she does say such awful things. She is always
talking. And just look at that dress!"

"I thought it would be pretty--" began Peace, but at that moment she
caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, and stopped so abruptly,
with such a comical look of dismay and despair in her eyes, that the
whole group burst out laughing. Peace joined in their merriment, and
then soberly said, "I look like a chicken when the down is turning to
feathers. What can I do about it? I _can't_ stay at home!"

"Where is your green dress?"

"Gail hasn't mended it yet."

Faith saw her opportunity and immediately compromised. "Peace, if I mend
your dress for you so you can go, will you sit perfectly still all the
evening and never say a word until you are spoken to?"

"Yes, oh, yes, I'll promise!"

The mother opened her lips to speak, but thought better of it, and with
a smile in her eyes, withdrew, leaving the children to their final
preparations.

At length the torn dress was neatly mended and buttoned on the wriggling
owner, the bright curls were given a second brushing and tied back with
a band of pink ribbon from Faith's own treasures, and the sisters were
on their way to the mother's room for a good-bye kiss when a fourth
girl, looking very sweet in a fresh, blue gingham, rushed excitedly up
the stairs and demanded, "Where did you say you put the cake, Faith?
Gail can't find it."

"Why, it's on the wash-bench under the pantry window, covered up with
the big dishpan."

"There is nothing under the dishpan but an empty plate."

"Hope! You are fooling!"

"Cross my heart and hope to die," was the solemn