e drawing-room, framed on the wall.
But Aunt May was dubious, isn't at all sure that she admires the British
royal family. She's a most delightful person!" Julia laughed out gayly.
"If ever I happen to speak of the Duchess of This or Lady That, Mama's
eyes fairly dance, but Aunt May isn't going to be hoodwinked by any
title. 'Ha!' she says. 'Do you think they're one bit better in the sight
of God than I am?' And I like nothing better than to regale her on their
silliness, tell her how one has forty wigs, and another is so afraid of
losing her diamonds she has a man sit and watch them every night. Long
afterward I hear her exclaiming to herself, 'Wigs, indeed!' or
'Diamonds! Well, did you ever!'"

"When you come to think of it, Ju, _isn't_ it odd to think of your own
people doing their own work, 'way out there on the very edge of the
western world, and you here, in a fair way to become a London
f'yvourite!"

"Doing their own work, indeed!" laughed Julia. "My good lady, you forget
Carrie. Carrie comes in every night to do the dishes, and because she's
coloured, my Aunt May has always felt that she stole sugar and tea.
However, we all laughed at Aunt May this year, when it came to
suspecting Carrie of stealing Regina's face powder! No, but you're quite
right, Bab," she went on more seriously. "It's all very strange and
dramatic. Saturday, when the Duchess came in to welcome us, and flowers
came from all sides, and the Penniscots came to carry us off to dinner,
I really felt, 'Lawk a mussy on me, this can't be I!'"

"Well, then, where _is_ the pill in the jelly?" asked Barbara
solicitously.

Julia had flung back her head and was listening intently. Footsteps and
voices were unmistakably coming up the hall stairs.

"No pills--all jelly!" she had time to say smilingly, before the door
opened and three persons came into the room: Doctor Studdiford,
handsomer and more boyishly radiant than ever; Miss Toland, quite gray,
but erect and vigorous still; and little Anna, a splendid, glowing
ten-year-old, in the blue serge sailor suit and round straw hat made
popular by the little English princess.

Babel followed. Every one must kiss Barbara; little George must come in
for his full share of attention. Presently the beaming Ellie was
summoned, and the children went away with her; Barbara carried off her
aunt for a makeshift luncheon in the dismantled Curriel mansion, and the
Studdifords were left alone.

"We picked Aunt Sann