still so as to make the place seem like her own. She was pleased
enough to be quite gracious to Mysie and Val who came to visit her, and
to offer to let them read any of her books; when they both thanked her
and said--

'If mamma lets us.'

'Oh, then you won't have them,' said Dolores; 'I'm not going to let her
have my books to take away.'

'You don't think she would take them away, when she said she wouldn't?'
said Mysie, hotly.

'Why, what would she do if she didn't happen to approve of them?'

'Only tell us not to read them.'

'And wouldn't you?'

'Why, Dolores!' in such a tone as made her ashamed of her question; and
she said, 'Well, father never makes any fuss about what I read. He has
other things to think of.'

'How do you get books, then?'

'I buy them. And Maude Sefton, she's my great friend, has lots given
to her, but nobody bothers about reading them. They aren't grown-up
books, you know.'

'How stupid,' said Val. 'You had better read the 'Talisman,' and then