t five, theatre and supper afterward, and
so on, till the supply of fingers threatened to become exhausted.

"Go on, I'll lend you mine," said Uncle Bob. "Prue says," he added,
"that it is enough to kill you, but you look pretty strong."

"She wouldn't mind if I worked my fingers to the bone for her hospital
or the Suffrage Association, but I want a little fun first, Uncle Bob."
Margaret Elizabeth supported an adorable chin in a pink palm and
regarded her relative appealingly.

"That's what I tell Prue. It is natural you should like best to stay at
Pennington Park, and go about in a splendid machine. I don't blame you
in the least, and I don't wish you to feel bound to come down here when
you don't really care to. Much as I love to have you, I shall not be
hurt." Uncle Bob nodded at Margaret Elizabeth with a reassuring smile
that in spite of intentions was a bit wistful too.

"I don't believe you understand, and for that matter, neither do I. I
love you best, and the Little Red Chimney, and this darling room. There
aren't any fairies at Pennington Park, but--I do like the whirl, the
fun, the pretty things, and----"

"The admiration, Margaret Elizabeth; out with it. You'll feel better,"
said Uncle Bob.

"Well, yes, people _do_ like me, and oh, I must show you
something!" She sprang up, and from a box lying on the sofa she took a
filmy, rose-coloured fabric. "What do you think of this?" she demanded,
shaking out the shimmering folds before his surprised eyes.

He rose nobly to the occasion. "Why, it looks like a sunset cloud. Is it
to wear?"

"Certainly. It is a pattern robe. Miss Kitty across the street is going
to put it together for me. She is a genius. Sunset cloud is very poetic.
Thank you, Uncle Bob. And now I must finish my letter before I go over
to Miss Kitty's, and then I promised the children I'd go with them to
buy some nuts for the squirrel. A bunny who has the courage to live so
far downtown should be rewarded. I wish you had been here, Uncle Bob, to
join our society." Margaret Elizabeth sat down with the rosy cloud all
about her, and laughed at the recollection. "Never again will they throw
a stone at his bunnyship. We laid our hands together so, and swore by
the paw of the cinnamon bear and the ear of the tailless cat, to take
the part of our brother beasts and birds. It was all on the spur of the
moment, or I might have done better, but they were impressed."

[Illustration: UNCLE BOB]

"I shou