There was a general cry of, "Oh, Miss Celia, why not?"

"Do you think she can have a high opinion of my ability to keep order?"

"But no one else could do any better."

"If Mrs. Graham had been here, you would not have rushed to the window, I
know very well."

"But we are so much fonder of you, Miss Celia," urged Charlotte.

"If that is the case I'd like you to show it by behaving," said Celia, as
she left the room.

When Belle told at home about the day's occurrences, her father laughed.

"I shall tell Mrs. Graham she must introduce manual training. 'Satan finds
some mischief still,' you see. Maybe Belle will turn out a famous
sculptor."

"At any rate, colonel, you ought not to encourage her in such pranks,"
Mrs. Parton remarked, shaking her head at her husband, who never saw
anything to criticise in the one little daughter among his five boys.




CHAPTER FIFTH.