Cathy raised her crescent brows, and a faint color crept into her smooth cheek as she quietly said: "Depths don't stir, my dear; and if stirred from the top, they are apt only to get muddy, you know. However, I'd like to accommodate you by getting furiously angry--at you, for instance; this is an inviting opportunity, and I don't know that I ought to miss it--but somehow it doesn't seem worth while." And even the obstreperous Bert was silenced by this covert thrust. When they all had settled themselves into various cozy attitudes, Bert demanded to know the object of the caucus. "I hope it is something interesting, for nothing but a command from you would have induced me to crawl out this morning," she yawned, as she adjusted a sofa-pillow for her comfort. Cathy murmured, "Hear! Hear!" but was evidently more absorbed in Evelyn's explanation of a new Kensington stitch. Nan rapped sharply with the handle of a tennis racquet, and requested order. Then she gave a little cough, tossed the grape-vine over her shoulder, and began: "Fellow-citizens! I come before you on this auspicious occasion to declare treason--treason to the tyrant commonly called 'polite society.' I've come to the solemn conclusion that it is about time I began to prepare to live." She was at this point interrupted by a groan, and Bert asked: "Why, aren't you alive, Nan? I am. Life so far is a great success, and it is all your own fault if you don't think so too. You have all the conveniences for having an uncommonly favored existence, if you only _insisted_ on thinking so." But Nan retorted: "That's just it--_if_ one could only think so! Aye, there's the rub. This is the place for tears. Oh, dear!--I can't whip my thoughts into obedience to my will as you can, Bert. I have, as you say, all the so-called 'opportunities' for having a so-called 'fine time,' and when I am old and gray, no one can say that I did not improve them with unflagging diligence. But I don't really enjoy myself, and I don't believe you do either--only you'll never own to it. Now, girls, honor bright, do you honestly think we amount to much? Are we getting the most out of life?" The impressiveness of the moment was ruined by the arrival of a green grape, plump upon the speaker's nose. Nan was good-natured enough to laugh with the rest, as she gave it a well-directed aim back at Bert. At this point Evelyn rescued the meeting from total disorder, by boldly announcing: "Stay, girls! I agree with Nan, so far as I know what she means. Oh, she was sublime last night! I wilted under the heat of her eloquence, and I proclaim myself her humble follower." At this encouragement, Nan administered a smothering hug to her noble champion; but suddenly she seemed to change her tactics from harangue to intrigue, for, helping herself to a bunch of Dianas, she said languidly: