ou to know about it--I listened to all you said."

"How funny! And we did not see you! Why, Dora, we don't care a bit, do
we, Bess?"

"I am very glad if you don't. I was so ashamed of myself. I hoped some
day I should know you, but I did not think it would happen so soon,"
and Dora heaved a sigh of relief.

"But isn't it funny that you should have found Carie?" said Bess.

"And then have tripped me up," added Carl, joining them. "It is really
as curious as our getting acquainted with Miss Brown."

"Who is Miss Brown?" asked Elsie.

"She is a person who has lately moved into Nottingham castle," he
replied gravely.

"Robin Hood broke one of her windows," added Aleck.

"What does he mean? I don't understand it at all," fretted Elsie, who
was so easily teased the boys could never resist the temptation.

"Carl is talking nonsense. I will tell you about her sometime," said
Bess.

"Good-by, Dora," said Louise when the happy evening was over and they
were starting home. "I think we ought to be friends because you found
Carie; don't you, Bess?"

Bess certainly thought so, for she had taken a desperate fancy to this
new acquaintance.

"You must come to see me; Helen and all of you," Dora said cordially.

"Mamma, I have had a beautiful time, I am glad I went," she exclaimed,
standing beside her mother's couch a few minutes later. "Does your
head ache? Then I'll wait till to-morrow to tell you about it;" and
she went to bed to dream pleasant dreams.

CHAPTER V.

UNCLE WILLIAM.

When the children reached home that evening they found Aunt Marcia and
Uncle William in the library.

Carie, too, was there, bent on an investigation of her uncle's pocket,
from which she had just brought to light in triumph a chocolate mouse.

"Now, baby dear, you must go to bed, mammy is waiting for you," said
Aunt Zelie.

"Let me find one uzzer one," pleaded Carie, depositing her prize on
her uncle's knee, and continuing the search.

"Of course you have had a 'perfectly lovely' time," said Uncle William
as the party-goers entered.

"Indeed we have," answered Louise, establishing herself on an arm of
her father's chair. "And we've found the nicest girl," she added.

"I found her," said Carl.

"She is the girl who brought Carie home yesterday, and we like her
very much," explained Bess.

"Annie May hasn't any politeness; she didn't introduce her to more
than one or two people. Think of being at a big party like that a