"Far wiser to have none at all," said Mrs. Carr-Boldt, in her decisive
way, "than to handicap them from the start by letting them see other
children enjoying pleasures and advantages they can't afford. And now,
girls, let's stop wasting time. It's half-past eleven. Why can't we
have a game of auction right here and now?"

Margaret returned to her cheque-book with speed. The other two, glad
to be aroused, heartily approved the idea.

"Well, what does this very businesslike aspect imply?" Mrs. Carr-Boldt
asked her secretary.

"It means that I can't play cards, and you oughtn't," Margaret
said, laughing.

"Oh--? Why not?"

"Because you've lots of things to do, and I've got to finish these
notes, and I have to sit with Harriet while she does her German--"

"Where's Fraulein?"

"Fraulein's going to drive Vic over to the Partridges' for luncheon,
and I promised Swann I'd talk to him about favors and things for
tomorrow night."

"Well--busy Lizzie! And what have I to do?"

Margaret reached for a well-filled date-book.

"You were to decide about those alterations, the porch and dining
room, you know," said she. "There are some architect's sketches around
here; the man's going to be here early in the morning. You said you'd
drive to the yacht club, to see about the stage for the children's
play; you were to stop on the way back and see old Mrs. McNab a
moment. You wanted to write Mrs. Polk a note to catch the 'Kaiserin
Augusta', and luncheon's early because of the Kellogg bridge." She shut
the book. "And call Mr. Carr-Boldt at the club at one," she added.

"All that, now fancy!" said her employer, admiringly.

She had swept some scattered magazines from a small table, and
was now seated there, negligently shuffling a pack of cards in
her fine white hands.

"Ring, will you, Peggy?" said she.

"And the boat races are to-day, and you dine at Oaks-in-the-Field,"
Margaret supplemented inflexibly.

"Yes? Well, come and beat the seven of clubs," said Mrs. Carr-Boldt,
spreading the deck for the draw.

"Fraulein," she said sweetly, a moment later, when a maid had summoned
that worthy and earnest governess, "tell Miss Harriet that Mother
doesn't want her to do her German to-day, it's too warm. Tell her that
she's to go with you and Miss Victoria for a drive. Thank you. And,
Fraulein, will you telephone old Mrs. McNab, and say that Mrs. Carr
Boldt is lying down with a severe headache, and she won't be able to
come