r eatin'? To say nothing of a pocket full o' tin?"

"If any would not work, neither should he eat," quoted the captain. "What
work have you two been about to-day?"

"Same as yerself, sir; lookin' at the exhibits in this here big World's
Fair."

"Very well; you may go and ask the steward for some supper."

A sound of retreating footsteps followed, and those of the guests who were
not in the secret looked about here and there in blank astonishment.

"Well, really! am I going blind?" ejaculated young Percy Landreth, passing
his hand over his eyes in a bewildered way. "I couldn't see those fellows
at all."

"Oh, no!" said Lucilla, "one can sometimes hear what one cannot see."

But at that instant there was a "cluck, cluck," as of a hen which seemed
to come from Annis' lap, and at which she sprang to her feet with a slight
cry of astonishment and dismay, but seeing nothing, "Why, where is it?"
she asked half breathlessly, and the "cluck, cluck," was repeated
apparently from behind the chair of her next neighbor, and immediately
followed by a loud barking as if a dog were in chase of the chicken.

"Oh!" exclaimed Annis, turning her eyes upon the elder Mr. Lilburn, "I
think I know--I've heard----"

But a warning gesture from Violet, whose face was full of amusement,
stopped her, and she dropped into her chair again with a slight, mirthful
laugh and a look of relief and diversion.

Percy saw it and suddenly comprehended pretty accurately what was going
on. Yet at the same moment he was startled and annoyed by a loud buzzing
about his ears as though a bee were flying round and round his head. He
put up his hand and tried to knock it away. Then it seemed to fly to
Chester and though he was not wholly unacquainted with the powers of
Cousin Ronald and Hugh, he too involuntarily made an effort to dodge and
drive it away.

Then the squeak of a mouse came from a reticule on Lucilla's lap, and that
so unexpectedly that she gave a little scream, at the same time springing
to her feet, and throwing the reticule from her.

At that her father laughed, and she picked it up again and reseated
herself with a slightly mortified air.

"Let me get that mouse out for you, Lu," said Herbert, holding out his
hand for the reticule; but scarcely were the words out of his mouth when
the meow of a kitten, coming from his coat pocket, caused him to suddenly
and almost involuntarily clap his hand upon it.

"Yes, Uncle Herbert, take the mo