"Ugh!" and an expression of disgust crossed Brenda's face at the mere thought of using the same plates and cups unwashed for a second meal. "There's a slight strain on the one who supervises their table manners. I've just been through my week. You see," and she turned in explanation toward Nora and Brenda, "each resident serves for a week as head of the girls' table at breakfast, and it is her duty to correct all their little faults as a mother would. At the other two meals they have only Miss Dreen, for we think that they ought to be free from the restraint of our presence at these other meals." "Do you try to guide conversation, too?" "Oh, yes, but thus far our presence has seemed a decided damper, and the solemnity of breakfast is in great contrast with the hilarity at the other two meals. At tea-time their laughter sometimes reaches even as far as the library." "They are ready to learn, and particularly ready to imitate. I am really obliged to watch myself constantly," said Julia, "lest I say or do something that may return against me some time, like a boomerang." "Then I fear that I should be a poor kind of resident," rejoined Brenda, "for it has been said that I speak first and think afterwards. However, in the presence of Maggie McSorley I am always going to try to do my best; for apparently it's my duty to bring her up for the next few years, and I won't shirk. But I wish that it had been Concetta instead of Maggie on whom I stumbled. I'm going to tell Ralph that I've found a perfect model for his new picture. Wouldn't you let her pose?" "Ask Miss South," responded Julia. But Miss South, without waiting for the question, only shook her head, with an emphatic "No, indeed." V PHILIP'S LECTURE Angelina was smiling broadly, "grinning from ear to ear" some persons would have expressed it, as she ushered two visitors into the room where Miss South, Julia, and Pamela were sitting one afternoon toward six o'clock, for Pamela was one of the residents at the Mansion. "Why, Philip; why, Tom!" cried Julia, rising from the lounge where she was looking over a folio of engravings, "this _is_ a pleasure." "Yes, we thought we'd accept promptly your kind invitation to drop in upon you at any time, so that we could see the Mansion and its contents just as they are." "Oh, yes, they are always ready for inspection." "We hope that you will ask us to stay to dinner," added Tom, after he had followed Philip's example and had shaken hands with the others. "Oh, certainly! especially as you have made it so evident that you are ready to accept." "That is delightful! You see we feared to wait for a formal invitation, lest you might show us only the company side of things, and we are anxious to see you just as you are." "Ah! we have no company side. We decided in the beginning to welcome our friends at any time, if they would take us just as we were." "This doesn't look like an institution," said Tom, glancing around the pretty room.