se go. But there's the bell; I expect it's another
batch of Johnny's friends.'

"And so it proved, for these were old acquaintances, eight or ten of
his schoolmates. Little misses dressed in fine style, in dainty
ruffled frocks and necklaces and bright hair-ribbons, tripped
gracefully in and advanced to meet Mrs. Morris, quite like grown ladies
in their manners. Behind them came several boys, spick and span in
fresh white linen waists and silk neckties and well-fitting shoes.

"'Ah! here are Frances and Naomi and Justice and Karl and Mary Ethel
and Philip and Jessica and all the rest,' said Mrs. Morris, giving them
each a hand of welcome as they gathered about her in a pretty group.
'Will you make yourselves quite at home and help me to entertain these
other visitors till Johnny comes in? I don't know what keeps him so
long. If you'll excuse me I'll go and look for him. There are the
pictures in the portfolio that you might like to show to these little
girls. And there's the admiral, our redbird, and Bessie, the parrot.
Maybe they would like to look at them.'

"The two girls whom she had designated as Jessica and Frances looked at
the strange children a minute but made no movement to carry out Mrs.
Morris' wishes. Instead they drew a little apart and began to talk to
each other. Mary Ethel, a round-faced girl who giggled a great deal
behind her fan, crossed over to where sat the large girl who had
mentioned the ice-cream, and started a conversation by remarking that
it was a warm day. The girl made no audible answer, only nodded.

"'Do you like to go to school?' inquired Mary Ethel.

"The girl again nodded. There was a little pause. Mary Ethel, who was
bent on carrying out Mrs. Morris' suggestion to help her entertain
them, began again on the weather. I suppose she couldn't think of
anything new to say, so she observed:

"'It's a nice warm day for the first of September, don't you think?'

"The girl's head once more wagged up and down in assent, but not a word
did she utter. At this a subdued titter came from Frances and Jessica.
Mary Ethel's face grew red and she frowned at them.

"Just at this moment in ran Johnny. He had put on his best suit. His
yellow hair was freshly brushed and his face was wreathed in smiles.
He reminded one of a dancing sunbeam. It was wonderful to see how
quickly he set the social wheel moving in the parlor. In three minutes
he had them all acquainted and talking to e