the stout lady
heartily. "We can't stay long, and we don't want to waste time."

"Cora, I guess we'd best introduce ourselves," observed the gentleman,
gently disengaging her from his arm. "We're Mr. and Mrs. Elihu Burritt
of Petteridge Court. I reckon you're Diana's schoolfellows? Pleased to
meet you, I'm sure."

"Did you have a wet drive?" asked Jess Paget, making a desperate and
most gallant attempt to pump up some item of conversation.

The stout lady shook her head eloquently.

"I _do_ say that in the matter of weather a British wet day just about
takes the cake!" she replied.

Her voice was slightly tremulous and muffled; perhaps the weather
agitated her. Moreover, her large tooth seemed to cause her some
inconvenience--it wobbled visibly as she spoke.

"If Diana don't turn up, I guess we'll have to be getting on," ventured
Mr. Elihu Burritt, pulling out a big watch and consulting it. "We've
got to call at the drug store at Glenbury, and time presses."

"Magsie's gone to fetch her. Peggy, you go too, and hurry her up. Won't
you sit down while you're waiting?" asked Jess, pulling forward two
chairs.

The visitors seated themselves, that is to say, they sank heavily down,
and planted their hands on their knees. Their eyes took an interested
review of the embarrassed faces of the girls, then they suddenly
collapsed into gurgles of laughter. An instant wave of comprehension
swept through the room.

"Diana and Wendy!" exclaimed a chorus of voices.

Mr. Elihu Burritt was guffawing to such an extent that his hat, and the
venerable locks stitched inside it, tumbled to the ground, revealing a
crop of brown hair. Mrs. Cora had lost her tooth altogether, and her
turban was tilted to a most disreputable angle. She slapped her partner
on the back, and commanded, between sobs of mirth:

"Elihu--stop laughing! I guess we'd best wangle ourselves off!"

But the girls had crowded round to examine the details of the costumes.

"They're topping!" they approved. "Absolutely A1! Can't think how you
did it! Diana, where did you get those togs?"

"Sent to Petteridge for them," exulted Diana. "They came in that parcel.
It's an old suit of Cousin Hugh's. I told Cousin Coralie I wanted it to
dress up in. The beard's just made out of tow, and so's Wendy's hair.
Flatter myself I came up to your expectations of a real backwoods Yank.
I wonder if I'd take in Miss Todd. I'd give a hundred dollars to try.
But it might be rather