on the fender, making a loud clatter. She quickly picked it up and sat
down upon it in great confusion, with a remorseful feeling that by her
imprudent excitement she had probably blasted Phillida's prospects in
life.

"Come, mother, you must get ready and go in," whispered Phillida.

"No, please, Phillida. He doesn't really want to see me. It's only a
matter of good form to ask for us both. You must beg him to excuse me. I
do so want to get this dress done."

Agatha, recovering from her remorse by this time, helped Phillida to do
a little hurried prinking. Luckily the latter had been getting ready to
go out and had on the gown that served her on all except extraordinary
occasions for both street and drawing-room.

Millard had amused himself while waiting by noting the various antiques
about the parlor, heirlooms of former family greatness, arranged with an
eye to tasteful effect. On the shelves in the corner some articles
connected with family history were intermingled with curiosities brought
from the East. A pair of brass-bound pattens hinged in the middle, once
worn instead of overshoes by some colonial ancestress, sat alongside a
pair of oriental sandals. Millard thought nothing could be more in
keeping with the ancient desk and table than the unaffected and
straightforward manner in which Miss Callender greeted him, holding out
her hand with modest friendliness and just a touch of diffidence. This
last was due to the innuendoes and antics of Agatha.

"I ventured to call without permission, Miss Callender," said Millard,
with hesitation.

"I'm glad you did, Mr. Millard." Phillida could not see why any
respectable gentleman should wait for an invitation to call on a lady,
or how a young lady could ever be so bold as to ask a gentleman to call.
She added, "My mother wished me to beg you to excuse her. She has some
troublesome affairs on hand just now."

"Certainly; don't let me interrupt her. I came on business with you. I
want to have the pleasure of escorting you to Mrs. Hilbrough's party
with your mother, if she will kindly accompany us."

Phillida hesitated. She knew that chaperonage was required on such
occasions. "Thank you. I should like to accept your kind offer, but my
mother rarely goes out," she said. "I don't believe I could persuade her
to go, and I've no other chaperon."

"How would Mrs. Gouverneur do?"

"But Aunt Harriet won't go."

"I've just come from her house, and she assured me that i