my eyes shut, and lay as still as a mouse,
hoping that Ethel would come. But Ethel didn't. She was coming down
with the chair, you know, and her men couldn't run like mine. And oh,
Kitty darling, you have no _idea_ what I suffered. This horrid man was
rubbing and pounding at my hands, and sighing and groaning. I stole a
little bit of a look at him--just a little bit of a bit--and saw tears
in his eyes, and a wild look of fear in his face. Then I knew that he
was going to propose to me on the spot, and kept my eyes shut tighter
than ever.

"Well, at last he hurt my hands so that I thought I'd try to make him
stop. So I spoke as low as I could, and asked if I was home, and he
said yes."

Minnie paused.

"Well?" asked her sister.

"Well," said Minnie, in a doleful tone, "I then asked, 'Is that you,
papa dear?'"

Minnie stopped again.

"Well?" asked Mrs. Willoughby once more.

"Well--"

"Well, go on."

"Well, he said--he said, 'Yes, darling'--and--"

"And what?"

"And he kissed me," said Minnie, in a doleful voice.

"Kissed you!" exclaimed her sister, with flashing eyes.

"Ye-yes," stammered Minnie, with a sob; "and I think it's a shame; and
none of them ever did so before; and I don't want you ever to go away
again, Kitty darling."

"The miserable wretch!" cried Mrs. Willoughby, indignantly.

"No, he isn't--he isn't that," said Minnie. "He isn't a miserable
wretch at all."

"How could any one be so base who pretends to the name of gentleman!"
cried Mrs. Willoughby.

"He wasn't base--and it's very wicked of you, Kitty. He only
pretended, you know."

"Pretended!"

"Yes."

"Pretended what?"

"Why, that he was my--my father, you know."

"Does Ethel know this?" asked Mrs. Willoughby, after a curious look at
Minnie.

"No, of course not, nor Dowdy either; and you mustn't go and make any
disturbance."

"Disturbance? no; but if I ever see him, I'll let him know what I
think of him," said Mrs. Willoughby, severely.

"But he saved my life, and so you know you can't be _very_ harsh with
him. Please don't--ple-e-e-ease now, Kitty darling."

"Oh, you little goose, what whimsical idea have you got now?"

"Please don't, ple-e-e-ease don't," repeated Minnie.

"Oh, never mind; go on now, darling, and tell me about the rest of
it."

"Well, there isn't any more. I lay still, you know, and at last Ethel
came; and then we went back to Dowdy, and then we came home, you
know."

"Well, I hope you've lo