was waiting while the girl
went upstairs to get ready.

"Yes," replied the governess, "I love it! But then, I love all the
dear things--even those poor woolly-leaved little primroses that have
almost less charm for me than any flowers I know. I'm so glad they are
all doing so well. I can't bear to bring a plant into the house and
then have it die. It seems almost like murder. But now I must run
away. I have an appointment with my dentist at three. It is very good
of you to ask Nan to dinner to-night, and I'm doubly glad it happens as
it does, for she would have to dine alone if she stayed at home, for I
have to go out of town on business and cannot get back tonight. Delia
will call for Nan at nine o'clock. Good-bye, and have a pleasant
evening!" and she caught up her satchel and was off in a twinkling.

But after she had let herself out of the front door she came back and
called Nan to the head of the stairs.

"It's bitterly cold," she said. "I had no idea it was so severe! Be
sure you wrap up warmly, Nan, and don't forget your gloves and leggings
when you come home. Oh, and the plants! You'll not fail to look after
them when you get in--the last thing before you go to bed? I think it
will freeze to-night, and they will need extra heat. Now, good-bye
again, and God bless you!"

Nan waved her a vigorous adieu with the towel she held in her hand, and
this time the governess was off in earnest.

The two girls followed her out not long after, and went laughing and
chatting down the street.

"I've asked Grace and Lu and Ruth to come in after dinner, and we're
going to have a candy-pull. I didn't ask John, but I told him what was
up, and he said he and Harley and Everett had been wanting to call for
some time, and as I'd be sure to be in, he thought they might as well
do it to-night. I told him he'd have to 'call' loud, for we'd be in
the kitchen, and probably wouldn't hear him, and he said he'd see to it
that we did; so I suppose we'll have them too."

Among them all it proved a gay evening, and seemed unusually so, for of
late jollifications had been rare. As Ruth said, "they were all kept
on short rations to pay up for the other night."

It appeared to Nan when Delia arrived that she had made a mistake in
the hour, and had appeared at eight instead of nine; but as it happened
Delia purposely delayed in order that her girl might have an extra
sixty minutes, and when she pointed to the clock, whose