"I am afraid you won't find, in this frivolous and dressy letter, the things you most want to know. As usual, my pen has run to nonsense. But if you were looking for food for reflection and nourishment of the soul, you would have come to father for it, instead of me. Sometimes, Peggy dear, I am ashamed of my aimless, careless existence of eating, sleeping and skylarking, as Theodore would say. There are moments of temporary aberration in my life when I wish I could help some one else. If I were like you, now, who carry sweetness and serenity with you, I wouldn't mourn, but alas, I am only "Your unregenerate but loyal friend, "MISS BILLY. "P.S. "My suspicions about the codfish were well founded. A strong and influential odour of breakfast has pushed the door open for me, and I know it is time for me to descend into the lower regions. Good-by, dear." Miss Billy laid down her pen with a sigh of relief, and wiped her ink-stained fingers. She had just lighted her little candle and produced a stick of wax to seal the letter, when a deafening noise filled the hall below. At the foot of the stairs stood her brother Theodore, armed with a Chinese gong, upon which he was performing with great vigour. His boyish tenor rang out clearly: "Arise, arise, ye maiden fair, Golden eyes and azure hair, Hear your loved one's plaintive calls, Come to me and codfish-balls. "Breakfast waits, Miss Billy. Did you go back to bed again?" The family had assembled at breakfast when the younger daughter entered the dining room, smiling over Theodore's improvised poetry. "Mother looks more sober than usual," she thought, as she drew the sweet face to her own. "Morning, motherie." "Good-morning, little daughter. You left your footprints behind you. The violets are lovely." There was an unsealed letter at Miss Billy's plate, and similar envelopes for Beatrice and Theodore. Miss Billy opened hers first. It ran: "You are requested to be present at a family meeting to be held in the study this morning at eight o'clock. Important matters to be discussed. By order of "FATHER."