him you were at home, and would be in in
a moment. Go on, what do you care?"

There was no way but to follow this advice; but she did care. She set
the starch back on the stove, and washed her hands, and waited while
Sallie ran up-stairs and hunted a towel; then she went, flushed and
annoyed, to the parlor. Leonard Brooks was an old acquaintance, but who
was the stranger?

"Mr. Holden, of New York," Leonard said.

"They would detain her but a moment, as she was doubtless engaged;" and
then Leonard looked mischievously down at the streaked dress. He was not
used to seeing Eurie look so entirely awry in the matter of her toilet.

Mr. Holden was going to get up a tableau entertainment, and needed home
talent to help him; he, Leonard, had volunteered to introduce him to
some of the talented ladies of the city, and had put her first on the
list. Eurie struggled with her embarrassment, and answered in her usual
way:

"He can see at a glance that I merit the compliment. If myself and all
my surroundings don't show a marked talent for disorder, I don't know
what would."

Mr. Holden was courteous and gallant in the extreme. He took very little
notice of the remark; ignored the state of the room utterly; apologized
for the unseemly hour of their call, attributing it to his earnest
desire to secure her name before there was any other engagement made;
"might he depend on her influence and help?"

Eurie was in a hurry. She smelled the starch scorching; Robbie was
crying fretfully, and the baby was so quiet she feared he was asleep;
the main point was, to get rid of her callers as soon as possible. She
asked few questions, and knew as little about the projected
entertainment as possible, save that she was pledged to a rehearsal on
the coming Wednesday at eight o'clock. Then she bowed them out with a
sense of relief; and, merely remarking to Jennie that she wished she
could coax Robbie and the baby into the parlor, and clear it up a little
before anybody more formidable arrived, she went back to the scorched
starch and other trials.

From that time forth a great many people wanted Dr. Mitchell. The bell
rang, and rang, and rang. Jennie had to run, and Eurie had to run to
baby. Then came noon bringing the boys home from school, hungry and in a
hurry; and Eurie had to go to Sallie's help, who was struggling to get
the table set, and something on it to eat.

Whereupon the bread suddenly announced itself ready for the oven by