72 MADGE’S MISTAKE.

get contemptuous glances from both Father
and Jack, and the former mutters “Clumsy ;”
but Miss Montgomery, to the fore as usual,
seizes a spoon and quietly pops the ruins
into Jack’s plate, that being the nearest re-
ceptacle, and then, leaning across me, helps
Freda to another; and once more there is
unbroken silence for a few minutes. Pres-
ently Father looks up suddenly and asks,
“Who is going to the flower-show next
week?”

We all look first at Father and then at
each other, and remain dumb, for we know
well enough that we shall have no voice in
the matter; and that whoever he chooses
himself will be obliged to go with a cheerful
~ countenance. Aunt evidently fears that our
obstinate silence may provoke Father, so she
looks up and says quietly:

“T suppose Freda, being the eldest, will
go, and perhaps Tiny; but, of course, I don’t
know how many of them you wish to take.

“Well, so be it, then,” replies Father,
rising from the table and throwing down the