good paper on 'The Mind of the Child,' by Miss Sarah Rich. But it
seemed so flat. And Mary Brown said, coming away, 'I think Doctor
and I will still come to the monthly receptions, but I believe I
won't listen to any more papers like that. They're all very well for
people who have no children--'"

"Well, by Tuesday night you'll have three!" said Walter, with what
was for him great gaiety of manner.

"Walter," his sister suggested nervously, "you'll be awfully
affectionate with Lizzie, won't you? Be sure to tell her that we
WANT them; and tell her that they'll be playing up at the Hall all
summer, as we used to. You know, I've been thinking, Walter," went
on the poor lady, with her nose suddenly growing red and her eyes
watering, "that I've not been a very good sister to Lizzie. She's
the youngest, and Mother--Mother wasn't here to advise her about her
marriage, and--and now I don't write her; and she wrote me that
Betty had a cough, and Davy was so noisy indoors in wet weather--and
I just go to the Club to hear papers upon 'Napoleon' and 'The Mind
of the Child.'" And Miss Anne, beginning to cry outright, leaned
back in her chair, and covered her face with her handkerchief.

"Well, Anne--well, Anne," her brother said huskily, "we'll make it
up now. Where are you going to put them?" he presently added, with
an inspiration.

Miss Pratt straightened up, blew her nose, wiped her eyes, and rang
for the maid.

"Betty and Hope in the big front room--" she began happily.