“I couldn’t be so unkind as to let you try it, Miss Mayton,” I replied.  But she insisted, and the pleasure of submitting to her will was so great that I would have risked even greater mischief.  So Miss Mayton sat down to dinner with Budge upon one side and Toddie on the other, while I was fortunately placed opposite, from which position I could indulge in warning winks and frowns.  The soup was served.  I signaled the boys to tuck their napkins under their chins, and then turned to speak to the lady on my right.  She politely inclined her head toward me, but her thoughts seemed elsewhere; following her eyes, I beheld my youngest nephew with his plate upraised in both hands, his head on the table-cloth, and his eyes turned painfully upward.  I dared not speak, for fear he would drop the plate.  Suddenly he withdrew his head, put on an angelic smile, tilted his plate so part of its contents sought refuge in the fold of Miss Mayton’s dainty, snowy dress, while the offender screamed:—­

“Oo—­ee—!—­zha turtle on my pyate!—­Budgie, zha turtle on my pyate!”

Budge was about to raise the plate when he caught my eye and desisted.  Poor Miss Mayton actually looked discomposed for the first time in her life, so far as I knew or could imagine.  She recovered quickly, however, and treated that wretched boy with the most Christian forbearance and consideration during the remainder of the meal.  When the dessert was finished she quickly excused herself, while I removed Toddie to a secluded corner of the piazza, and favored him with a lecture which caused him to howl pitifully, and compelled me to caress him and undo all the good which my rebukes had done.  Then he and Budge removed themselves to the lawn, while I awaited Miss Mayton’s reappearance, to offer an apology for Toddie, and to make our adieus.  It was the custom of the ladies at Mrs. Clarkson’s to stroll about the lovely rural walks after dinner and until twilight; and on this particular evening they departed in twos and threes, leaving me to make my apology without witnesses.  I was rather sorry they went; it was not pleasant to feel that I was principally responsible for my nephews’ blunder, and to have no opportunity to allay my conscience-pangs by conversation.  It seemed to me Miss Mayton was forever in appearing; I even called up my nephews to have some one to talk to.

Suddenly she appeared, and in an instant I fervently blessed Toddie and the soup which the child had sent upon its aimless wanderings.  I would rather pay the price of a fine dress than try to describe Miss Mayton’s attire; I can only say that in style, color and ornament it became her perfectly, and set off the beauties of a face which I had never before thought was more than pleasing and intelligent.  Perhaps the anger which was excusable after Toddie’s graceless caper had something to do with putting unusual color into her cheeks, and a brighter sparkle than usual in her eyes.  Whatever was the cause, she