"No, indeed; it is to be hoped I never shall, for that would throw my mother and sister into despair, at once!" Miss Patsey, who had heard the voices of the party, now came from the little kitchen, where she had been baking, to receive her friends. "Elinor has just remarked that things do not look as if you had an artist in the house; everything is neat as wax," said Mr. Wyllys, stepping into the little parlour. Miss Patsey was beginning to resign herself to hearing Charlie called an artist, although the word had still an unpleasant sound to her ear. "Charles is very good," she replied, "about keeping his things in their place; he does not make much litter." After some inquiries about Mrs. Hubbard--who, it seems, was taking her afternoon nap--Mr. Wyllys asked to see Charlie's work. "You must let us look at it, Charles," said Miss Agnes; "we have been waiting, you know, quite impatiently for the last week." "If we must go up to your STUDIO for it, we'll rest awhile first," said Mr. Wyllys taking a seat. "You mortify me, sir," said Charlie, "by using such great words about my little doings, even in pleasantry. I am half afraid to show my work; but I will bring it down." "I hope we shall find some improvement--that is all we can expect at present, my boy. We don't look for a Claude yet." {"Claude" = Claude Lorrain (1600-1662), French painter famous for his landscapes, who was an important influence on the American Hudson River School} Charlie blushed, in the excess of his modesty. "Pray, bring all your sketches, too," said Elinor. "Mary wrote me you were drawing all winter; you must have a great deal that we have not seen." "They are certainly not worth looking at; but such as they are, you shall see them." "And don't forget the Arithmetic, too," said Mr. Wyllys, smiling; "we had better look a little into Compound Interest, of course." Charlie looked as if that were rather a sore subject, as he left the room. While he was gone, a carriage stopped at the little gate. It proved to be the Taylors; and Mr. Taylor, with his wife, and a couple of children, walked in. After a general salutation had been exchanged, and two additional chairs had been brought from a bed-room, to accommodate such an unusual number of visiters, Mr. Taylor turned to Miss Patsey, and observed, in a jocular way: "It is not etiquette, I believe, to call twice in the same day; but I hope you will excuse us; for on this occasion, Mrs. Taylor has come to transact a little business." "As you seem to be engaged, Miss Hubbard, we will put it off until another time," said Mrs. Taylor. " "Just as you please," replied Miss Patsey. "I am always glad to see my friends." Mr. Taylor, however, liked quick measures, and never postponed business if he could help it. "We came to see you, this afternoon, about our two youngest children; if you can conveniently take them into your school, it would suit us very well."