"Oh, I don't believe she's anxious to have you out of the way--only--" "Yes'm, it's just that. She's wishing to fill the place up with company of her own, and because I keep an eye to the ice-chest she isn't at all pleased. I know what girls is, ma'am, and that Angelina, she's always up to something." Martine, when her mother repeated the substance of the cook's words, laughed lightly. "Oh, it's much more entertaining to have one person in the house who's up to something. If they were all as stupid as the cook, how dull it would be. But I can tell you what's the matter with Angelina--she is going to give a recital." "A recital?" "Yes. It seems she has been taking elocution lessons ever since she had any money of her own to spend." "Did Miss Bourne encourage this kind of thing?" "Oh, no, she disapproved, but she just couldn't stop her. Brenda Weston told me all about it. Brenda thought there was no great harm in Angelina's amusing herself this way." "But elocution lessons must cost so--" "Yes, that's what Miss Bourne said, and she didn't want Angelina to go on the stage, as she threatened." "Angelina on the stage!" "Yes, mamma. She has even confided to me that she has been answering advertisements of companies that want soubrettes. Of course I told her it was dreadful, and she's promised to give up that idea for the present. But I have taken some tickets for her recital." "My dear, I wish you hadn't encouraged her." "Oh, anything else would have seemed mean, and she didn't dare try to sell you any." After Martine's explanation, Mrs. Stratford was more patient with Angelina. How could she expect regular work from her until after the recital! This was the affair that Martine persuaded Priscilla to attend with her, as well as Lucian and Robert. The four other tickets that she had bought in addition to those needed for her party lay unused in her desk drawer. No one to whom she had offered them cared for them. The recital was to be given in a place too far away. "You are sure we are on the right car?" Martine asked, after the four had been some time on their way. "You said Chelsea, didn't you? well, this car is bound for the Chelsea Ferry," replied Lucian. "Chelsea," exclaimed Priscilla, "I didn't know we were going there! Isn't that awfully far away? I oughtn't to go outside of Boston." "But this is only across the harbor, and Angelina says the hall is a very short way from the dock." "Oh, very well," and Priscilla sank back in her seat. She must continue with her friends and since they were prepared to go to Chelsea, she could only resign herself to their plans.