bility thrust
upon her, others pitied Rosalind, and still more, envied her.

In view of all the discussion, it was not possible to regard an invitation
to meet her as quite an everyday matter.

"I do wish you had not soiled your embroidered muslin, Belle. You will
have to wear your summer silk," said Mrs. Parton, addressing her daughter,
who sat on the dining-room floor entertaining a Maltese kitten with a
string and spool.

"I forgot to tell you, mother, Jack dropped some wax candle on it last
Sunday night, when we were looking for a penny in the grass," Belle
replied, lifting her merry black eyes for a moment. "Anyway, it isn't a
dress-up party--only to supper."

"Bring that dress to me at once. I am astonished at you. The only decent
thing you have!" Mrs. Parton sat down and clasped her hands in an attitude
of desperation.

Followed by the kitten, Belle departed, returning directly with the blue
and white checked silk over her arm.

"Whatever it is," her mother continued, I want you to look nice; Betty
says Rosalind Whittredge has beautiful clothes."

"I just know she is a prig," remarked Belle, caressing the kitten.

"No, she isn't!" A tumbled head and a pair of eyes very like Belle's own
peered out suddenly from beneath the table cover. "If she was, she
wouldn't have run away to take supper with Morgan."

"Mercy upon us, Jack! you are enough to startle the sphinx. Come out from
under that table at once," commanded his mother.

"Did she do that?" asked Belle, with some interest, adding, "Is it very
bad, mother? Can you clean it? How do you know she did, Jack?"

Mrs. Parton shook her head; "I'll try French chalk," she said.

"Miss Betty said so. She saw her," put in Jack.

Mrs. Parton rose. "Another time when you lose a penny, I will make it good
rather than have your best dress spoiled," she remarked.

"But you see, mother, it was a church penny," Belle explained, as if she
were mentioning some rare and peculiar coin. "Arthur brought the
collection home because Uncle Ranney wasn't there, and when he untied his
handkerchief on the porch a penny dropped out and rolled into the grass."

"Who is going to Miss Betty's?" Jack asked, as his mother left the room.

"Maurice and Katherine and you and me, and the Ellises, and--I don't know
who."

"I know it will be stupid; I don't think I'll go."

"If it is stupid, you will make it so," retorted his sister, adding, "and
you will go, too, for mother will ma