MESS Se BiG aT Bre Veo

Trying to arise as she espied me, she found herself thus anchored fast, and
sank back with the gurgle that used to be fascinating and was now only funny.

“Tam a prisoner, you see. Come in, my dear child, and help yourself to a
seat. I’m ever and ever so glad to see you.”

“TJ am afraid that I am an intruder,” said I, in obeying the request.

“Nota bit; not a bit of it, [assure you. These precious pets have a way
of running in to enliven my
solitude when it is not fit
weather for them outside.
It is always bright and warm
here, and they know it —
bless their hearts! ’m never
so happy as when the house
is brimful of them. They
know that, too, the cun-
ning little things! and their
mothers are good enough
to indulge me. You won't
mind ir our concert goes on
for a few minutes longer,
will you, dearest girl?”

Everything she sang had

“HOW DO YOU DO, MISS BUTTERFLY ?” a chorus, and all the children
joined in with more zeal
than discretion, and more spirit than tune. By and by the guitar was laid
aside; the folding-doors between library and drawing-room were thrown open,
and there was an uproarious game of hide-and-seek over the rich carpets —
“almost as good,” averred one youngster, “as playing upon the grass.” The
least of the party — the oldest of which could not have been eight years old —
kept nearest to Miss Betty all the while, and were “coached” by her in the
mysteries of the romp. Biscuits and milk —the latter in dainty little mugs —
were dispensed at four o’clock, soon after which, nurses, older sisters, a brother
or two, and a couple of mothers, arrived to escort the guests to their homes.

At the outcry of protest that ensued, Miss Betty made herself heard.

“Tf you'll promise to go home quietly, like dear, good lambies, you shall see
my butterfly take his supper.”

They trooped at her heels to a large Wardian case set in a bay window. It
was full of ferns and flowering plants, and as she raised the peakéd lid, we saw
upon the pink waxen blossom of a beautiful begonia a large brown-and-blue
butterfly, asleep or torpid.

“He's taking his afternoon nap,” gurgled Miss Betty. “Wake up, my
beauty, and have your tea.”