alf so hard on me. That's how I find listening useful."

"Well, it is not right," said Ann, "but I have no time to argue with
you now, Phil; I want to talk about the children. Whatever Simpson
says, and whatever Miss Ramsay says, I am delighted that they are
coming. I think it will be fun. In my heart, you know, Phil, I love
fun, and I want to be able to talk English sometimes, and Phil, would,
_would_ you like to know their names?"

"Their names?" said Philip. "I suppose they have names, although I
never thought about them."

"Well, of course they have, and I'll tell you what they are. They have
got lovely names; once I heard mother say that the whole four of them
were called after heathen idols. Isn't it awful and exciting to be
called after a heathen idol? Oh, Phil! they have such lovely names!"

Philip was not much interested in heathen idols, but Ann's excited
face and her bright blue eyes did strike him as out of the common.

"Well, you are in a state," he said. "What creatures girls are! You'll
catch it when mother comes home. You know she never can stand anybody
all jumpy, and jerky, and quivery, like you are now. Well, what are
the names? Out with them and get them over."

"Iris is the name of the eldest girl," said Ann. "Then comes
Apollo--he is a boy."

"I'll never be able to get hold of that name," said Philip. "Apollo!
how queer."

"But it is not queer, really," said Ann, delighted at having roused
his real interest at last. "Of course, Apollo is very well known
indeed. He was a sort of beautiful god long ago."

"But this boy is not a god--horrid little beggar," said Philip. "Well,
what are the names of the others?"

"There is a girl called Diana."

"Diana," repeated Philip. "There's nothing in that name. That name is
in the Bible. Miss Ramsay read the whole story aloud to us last
Sunday when the beastly rain kept dropping and dropping all day long.
'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.' I rather like the sound, but
there's nothing at all in a name of that sort, Ann."

"Well, I didn't say there was," answered Ann. "I only think it awfully
pretty."

"I don't think much of it for an ordinary girl. Well, now, what is the
other name? I'll call Conrad back, if you are not quick."

"I'll tell it to you. Look here, Phil, I bet you never heard a name
like it."

"You bet?" said Philip. "Oh, if mamma only heard you!"

"For goodness' sake, don't tell her," said Ann. "I can't help letting
out sometimes