accepting the cup and helping herself from the plate
of warm tea-cakes with which Susanna returned.

"This is a reward to rainy-day callers," answered Marion, smiling.

"Well, you are the most astonishing people I ever came in contact
with. I hope you don't mind my saying it," Miss Sarah spoke
confidentially. "I don't mean in respect to tea."

"Not at all," laughed Norah. "We, too, have our impressions of the
neighborhood."

"I shouldn't be surprised if you had." Miss Sarah joined in the laugh.
"Of course it is no secret to you that the neighborhood did not very
much want you, and the way in which you are winning us over is a
miracle. Miss Wilbur, Charlotte, Alex, and now you have captured Mr.
Goodman. Charlotte told me about the party. How do you do it?"

"It has all come about through the merest accident," Marion explained.

"Such accidents don't happen to everybody. I think you practise
witchcraft."

"James Mandeville and the birthday cake captured Giant Despair," said
Norah, the name slipping out before she thought.

"So that is what you call him! Have you named us all? It suits him,
too; but poor man, he has had his troubles, as have some of the rest
of us." Miss Sarah looked meditatively into the fire. "Soon after he
built his house in the Terrace," she continued, "his daughter, an only
child, was burned to death. It was a sad thing,--she was just
eighteen. Then a nephew whom he adopted turned out a scamp, and now he
has lost faith in everything."

While she was speaking the shop door opened to admit Alexina and
Charlotte, rosy and wet from a walk in the rain.

"I want a spool of twist," Charlotte announced merrily.

"Won't a cup of tea do? We are serving that at present," Norah asked.

"How pleasant!" Alex exclaimed as they slipped off their wet
waterproofs. "Are you always cheerful over here?"

Charlotte sought Miss Carpenter's side. "I like tea," she said, the
blue eyes showing, however, a fondness for something more than that
innocent beverage. Just now this young lady had a profound fascination
for her. Miss Alex and Aunt Virginia might prefer Miss Pennington,
Miss Carpenter had her admiration.

"If you need anything more in the way of cheer, I will bring forth the
grab-bag," said Norah, as she handed Alex some tea.

"That sounds interesting; do let us have it," begged Miss Sarah.

"You will be disappointed," Marion put in, mischievously, while Norah
went for the rainbow bag. "You expect a