"There are many ways, dear," replied her mother, "in which people can influence those around them in the cause of total abstinence. Some are wanted who can write books and articles; others who can speak in favour of it. But it is early days for us to plan your future, girlie; when you have left school far behind and are quite grown up, it will be easier to see how you can best live up to your name." "I think I should like to be a speaker," said Amethyst meditatively. "You are one now, I think, girlie," said Mrs. Drury, with a little laugh. "You know father says you are a regular chatterbox. Now, let us go into Wilson’s and get some of those nice scones for tea, and then we must hurry home." They had just emerged from the confectioner’s, and were crossing the road, when Amethyst espied the two Franklyn girls coming towards them. "There are Olive and Elsa," she said, delightedly; and then she added, persuasively, "Oh! mumsie, do you think they might come to tea with us to-day?" "Not to-day, darling, I think, because you have all your lessons to do, and there is scarcely time for them to go home and get permission, now. But they might come on Saturday," she added, as Amethyst looked very doleful. "Let us speak to them." "How do you do, dears?" was Mrs. Drury’s bright greeting, as she shook hands with the twins. "How is your mother to-day?" "Father thinks she is a little better, thank you, Mrs. Drury." It was Elsa who spoke; Olive always deputed her sister to give the latest bulletins of her mother’s health. "I am glad to hear that," said Mrs. Drury warmly; "will you give her my love, and tell her I hope to come and see her very soon? Meanwhile, Amethyst and I are wondering whether she would allow you both to come to tea next Saturday." "Oh! thank you very much, Mrs. Drury, we shall be delighted to come," said Olive, a ring of pleasure in her tones; they always enjoyed themselves at St. Paul’s Vicarage. "I think we had better just ask first," ventured Elsa, "although I feel sure mother will be very pleased." "Quite right, dear," said Mrs. Drury, looking approvingly at Elsa, so that she did not see Olive shrug her shoulders disdainfully. "Come early in the afternoon, if you may, so that you and Amethyst can have some fun together in the garden. I hear you have all been moved up," she added, as they began to separate. "Yes, an awful nuisance, I call it," said Olive; "we shall have no end of home-work to do now. That algebra we did this morning is stupid stuff, isn’t it, Thistle? All silly little letters and numbers that don’t seem to mean anything. I couldn’t make head or tail of it." "I rather liked it," said Amethyst. "So did I," admitted Elsa. "Well, you all ought to grow up very clever women," said Mrs. Drury, with a smile. "I hope you will all do something great some day." "No fear of that for me," was Olive’s nonchalant reply, as Amethyst and her mother hurried on.