ained. Then Marilla
came down and waited on the table as Bridget sent various things up on
the lift. She was a really charming little waitress.

"Such an odd thing occurred today," began Mrs. Borden. "John do you
know a firm, Davis & Calthorpe, who manufacture something--"

"Yes, Calthorpe is selling out, I drew up some papers for him. He's
been up in the Adirondacks all summer and is going to Bermuda; but he
will never come back alive."

"How queer it all is! We met Mrs. Brant a few times at Bayside. They
have come to Newton to look into the business and are staying with
Mrs. Wheeler. They came to call and Mrs. Brant has a pretty, stylish
young daughter. Of course they'll have to move here. She is quite
taken with Newton. I told them about that Jamreth house down the
street and they decided to look at it. Of course I didn't get much
acquainted with her, but she seems a very nice body. And that's a
promising business, but Calthorpe had to give it up and I'm sorry for
the poor fellow; glad, too, that he met with this chance of disposing
of his share. Brant appears to be a nice, brisk fellow and it is lucky
for Davis as well."

The Jamreth house had stood empty all summer. Marilla passed it on her
way to the park, for Arch street led direct. Suppose Ada was there
sitting on the stoop or at the window and giving her that indifferent
stare when they had been quite acquaintances!

For the first time fairy land and her dancing with the Prince failed
to comfort. The whole world seemed changed, and how would Miss
Armitage be, now that she was well?

But she was very, very busy; Jack went to school a week and was
delighted with the boys.

"Sam Gordon has a little brother just big enough to begin school. I
wish one of the twins was a boy. What's the use of so many girls?"

His father laughed a little at that. The second week the charm began
to fail. His head ached and he wanted to stay at home and have Marilla
read to him.

"Boys don't have headaches," said his mother. But he was cross and his
face flushed up so that in the afternoon his teacher sent him home.
"And I don't want this scratchy flannel on! I like the other better;
can't I pull it off?"

"The others are worn out, and it is coming cooler weather. Oh, you'll
get used to it," said his mother, teasingly.

Then he kicked the babies' playthings about and pinched Marilla's arm
and wouldn't eat any dinner, and said his pudding was bitter. His
father sent him t