194 TROTTY’S WEDDING TOUR.

“* Perhaps it won't always Hee ’ said I, as we went out
and closed the door.

“Tt will always squirm,” said Alta, in a hollow voice.
‘We can only wait for mother now. We can see what she
says. But it will always squirm.’

Punctually from the morning train the Hen rolled up to
the door, to the music of the baby’s most familiar and most
expressive soprano scream; Bib, the bags, the lunch-box, the
shawl-straps, and the umbrella bundled out and resumed their
characteristic commotion in our quiet midst; mother kissed
us twice apiece, gave Alta her bonnet and me the baby, and
went up stairs to put away her things.

Alta and I heard her from below: “ Why, girls! Why,
you girls!” And for one delusive moment our hearts beat
fast with a pleasure which, I fancy, only successful paper-
hangers can ever experience.

“Tt’s as pretty as a picture,” said mother, coming down.
“T’m sure you are the best girls! Such a surprise, too!
There ’s only one little thing I noticed, —a wrinkle in the
cranberry line, Alta, over behind the washstand.”

“ Ah?” said Alta, faintly.

“ Tt can’t be,” said I, with a ghastly hypocrisy.

“ Well, perhaps not,” said mother; “but I certainly
thought the paper seemed to wriggle, somehow. It gave me
a dizzy feeling, after being in the cars. No doubt I shall get
over it soon. It’s a little funny,—did you think of it?
Emma Elizabeth had a calico dress just of that pattern once.