She crossed the room and, opening the wardrobe door, took out a pretty striped cotton gown. "Warm enough for this, isn't it?" Nathalie nodded. In a few minutes more the girls were both in the dining room. Helen and the children were already at breakfast. "How late you are," cried Helen, looking up from an open letter. "I wish you----" "Never mind, dear," interrupted Nathalie. "It will all be the same a hundred years hence." "Oh, yes, I suppose so," sighed Helen. "Gladys, don't beat on the table with your spoon. The noise is distracting." "And although your tones are dulcet, my love, suppose you give us that little song after breakfast," and Jean slipped into her place at her little sister's side. Gladys turned and threw her arms around her. "I didn't see you come in, Jeanie." "That is because you have not eyes in the back of your head, pet." "Of course I haven't. Nobody has, 'cept fairies and princesses, I s'pose," and Gladys straightened herself up, and, in so doing, overturned her glass of milk into her lap. "Gladys," cried Helen sharply, "look at your nice, clean frock. It is a shame." The little girl's lips trembled, and her bright blue eye overflowed with tears. "You don't s'pose I did it a-purpose--for nothing." "No, no, dear. Of course not. Don't cry. I didn't mean to scold you. There, get down and run up to Mary, like a good little girl, and have your frock changed," for the sight of tears always put an end to Helen's best efforts at severity. But Gladys' feelings had been hurt, and now that she was mistress of the situation, she had no intention of drying her eyes. "I think you were unkind, Helen," she began plaintively. "Don't be a baby, Gladys," interposed Nathalie irritably. "I declare, I think it a perfect nuisance to have our breakfast spoiled in this way. If you can't behave, you had better have yours in the nursery." The child's tears were about to begin afresh when a pleasant voice was heard at the door. "Good-morning. Can I come in?" And without awaiting permission Miss Hill crossed the room. In her pretty flannel gown and garden hat she made a very pleasing picture. "How are you, puss?" And she stooped and kissed little Gladys' tear-stained cheek, smiling meanwhile at the girls, as she divined the situation. "All right," said the little girl, her face brightening perceptibly, for she dearly loved Miss Hill. "Helen, here is a rose," said Eleanor, "and when you smell it you will realize that June is here." Helen smiled her thanks. "Well, Eleanor, what started you so early?" asked Jean, as she buttered her roll. "Early? You girls don't know what early means. Why it is after nine and I had my breakfast a good hour ago." "Horror!" shuddered Nathalie. "The very thought is pain." "They are spoiled," spoke Helen, "and even I am getting into bad habits. I simply gave up struggling, and set the breakfast hour a half hour later, with the desperate hope that it might bring them down on time."