is my first dinner."

"I always said dinners were a part of the curse," said Keith, lightly,
smiling down at her fresh face with sheer content. "I shall confine
myself hereafter to breakfast and lunch-except when I receive
invitations to Mrs. Wickersham's." he added.

Mrs. Lancaster was on the other side of Keith; so he found the dinner
much pleasanter than he had expected. She soon fell to talking of Lois,
a subject which Keith found very agreeable.

"You know, she is staying with Louise Wentworth? Louise had to have some
one to stay with her, so she got her to come and teach the children this
Winter. Louise says she is trying to make something of her."

"From my slight observation, it seems to me as if the Creator has been
rather successful in that direction already. How does she propose to
help Him out?"

Mrs. Lancaster bent forward and took a good look at the girl, who at the
moment was carrying on an animated conversation with Stirling. Her color
was coming and going, her eyes were sparkling, and her cheek was
dimpling with fun.

"She looks as if she came out of a country garden, doesn't she?" she
said.

"Yes, because she has, and has not yet been wired to a stick."

Mrs. Lancaster's eyes grew graver at Keith's speech. Just then the
conversation became more general. Some one told a story of a man
travelling with his wife and meeting a former wife, and forgetting which
one he then had.

"Oh, that reminds me of a story I heard the other day. It was awfully
good-but just a little wicked," exclaimed Mrs. Nailor.

Keith's smile died out, and there was something very like a cloud
lowering on his brow. Several others appeared surprised, and Mr. Nailor,
a small bald-headed man, said across the table: "Hally, don't you tell
that story." But Mrs. Nailor was not to be controlled.

"Oh, I must tell it! It is not going to hurt any of you. Let me see if
there is any one here very young and innocent?" She glanced about the
table. "Oh, yes; there is little Miss Huntington. Miss Huntington, you
can stop your ears while I tell it."

"Thank you," said Lois, placidly. She leaned a little forward and put
her fingers in her ears.

A sort of gasp went around the table, and then a shout of laughter, led
by Stirling. Mrs. Nailor joined in it, but her face was red and her eyes
were angry. Mrs. Wentworth looked annoyed.

"Good," said Mrs. Lancaster, in an undertone.

"Divine," said Keith, his eyes snapping with satisfacti