ist in her class, and was always tearing up flowers in
the most wasteful manner. Worse than that, she expected Edith to do the
same thing and learn the hard names of the poor little withered pieces.

"You don't love flowers as well as I do, Kyzie, or you couldn't abuse
them so!"

This is what she often said to her learned sister after Kyzie had made
"a little preach" about the beauties of botany.

As they entered the hotel for luncheon, Kyzie was still thinking of the
schoolhouse and the sweet-toned bell and the singular speech of Joe
Rolfe, about wanting her for a teacher. What came of these thoughts you
shall hear later on.

"Well, I declare, I forgot all about that zebra kitty," said Edith.
"What will the knitting-woman think of such actions?"

IV

THE "KNITTING-WOMAN"

The "knitting-woman" met Edith at the dining-room door after luncheon,
and said to her rather sharply:--

"Well, little girl, I thought you liked kittens?"

"I do, Mrs.--madam, I certainly do," replied Edith feeling guilty and
ashamed. "But Nate Pollard took us to see the gold mine and the
schoolhouse and we've just got back."

"Oh, that's it! I thought 'twas very still around here--I missed the
noise of the _boyoes_.--You don't know what I mean by boyoes," she
added, smiling. "I picked up the word in Ireland. I'm always picking up
words. It means _boys_."

"I understand; oh, yes."

"Well, 'twas a little trouble to me, your not coming when I expected
you; but you may come this afternoon. I'll be ready in ten minutes."

"Yes, madam, thank you."

Edith ran to her mother laughing. "Oh, mamma, she is the queerest woman!
Calls boys _boyoes_! I must go to see her kitten whether I want to or
not--in just ten minutes! I wish I could take Kyzie with me; would you
dare?"

"Certainly not. Katharine has not been invited. And don't make a long
call, Edith."

"No, mamma, I'll not even sit down. I'll just look at the zebra kitty
and come right away."

Mrs. Dunlee smiled. If there were many pets at Number Five it was not
likely that Edith would hasten away. "Remember, daughter, fifteen
minutes is long enough for a call on an entire stranger. You don't wish
to annoy Mrs. McQuilken; but if you should happen to forget, you'll hear
this little bell tinkle, and that will remind you to leave."

Number Five was a very interesting room, about as full as it could hold
of oddities from various countries, together with four cats, a canary,
and a