but Hattie rose. Hattie
was a St. George, and a Dragon stood between her and The Exhibition.
She pushed by Sadie, and past Emmy Lou. Hattie was slim as she was
strenuous, but not even so slim a little girl as Hattie could push by
the stout lady, for she filled the space.

At Hattie's touch she turned. Although she looked good-natured, the
size and ponderance of the lady were intimidating. She stared at Hattie;
people were looking; it was in church; Hattie's face was red.

"You can't get to the family," said the lady; "you couldn't move in
the crowd. Besides I promised to see to you. Now be quiet," she added
crossly, when Hattie would have spoken. She turned away. Hattie crept
back vanquished by this Dragon.

"So suitably dressed," the stout lady was saying to a lady beyond;
"grandchildren, you know. Even their little handkerchiefs have
black borders." The service began, and there fell on the unwilling
grandchildren the submission of awe. The stout lady cried, she also
punched Emmy Lou with her elbow whenever that little person moved, but
finally she found courage to turn her head so she could see Sadie. Sadie
was weeping into her black-bordered handkerchief, nor were they tears
of histrionic talent. They were real tears. People all about were
looking at her sympathetically. Such grief in a grandchild was very
moving. It may have been minutes; it seemed to Emmy Lou hours, before
there came a general uprising. Hattie stood up. So did Sadie and Emmy
Lou. Their skirts no longer stood out jauntily; they were quite crushed
and subdued. There was a wild, hunted look in Hattie's eyes. "Watch
the chance!" she whispered, "and run."

But it did not come. As the pews emptied, the stout lady passed Emmy Lou
on, addressing some one beyond. "Hold to this one," she said, "and I'll
take the other two, or they'll get tramped in the crowd."

Slowly the crowd moved, and being a part of it, however unwillingly,
Emmy Lou moved, too, out of the church and down the steps. Then came
the crashing of the band and the roll of the carriages, and she found
herself in the front row on the curb.

The man with the brandishing sword was threatening violently. "One more
carriage is here for the family," called the man with the sword. His
glance in search for the family suddenly fell on Emmy Lou. She felt it
fall.

The problem solved itself for the man with the sword, and his brow
cleared.

"Grandchildren next," roared the threatening man. "Kee