"Really, Mrs. Flint, it would be no--" "No, no, don't speak of it again, I beg of you." "But, my dear Mrs. Flint, it seems to me that you--" "I'm sure it is very good of you to say so, but I really could not allow--" "Please, Mrs. Flint." "No, in fact _I_ insist upon withdrawing in your favour. There, now please let us not say anything more about it." "That's right, give in, Miss Sawyer, we ain't gettin' ahead fast enough to suit me," said Mrs. Stout. Miss Sawyer succumbed with a sigh. "Now," Mrs. Stout continued, "I'd like to ask why nobody's made a motion." "Motions are necessary," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "when action on any question is contemplated. The chair awaits a motion." "Mis' President, I--" said Mrs. Stout. "Mrs. Stout," gravely acknowledged Mrs. Tweedie. "I motion," continued Mrs. Stout, "that we have a committee to get up some rules." "It is MOVED" (Mrs. Tweedie said "moved" in capitals, hoping that Mrs. Stout would profit by it) "that a committee on rules be appointed. Are you ready for the question?" "There ain't any question about it as I can see," said Mrs. Stout, indignantly. Mrs. Tweedie patiently explained. Then the motion was "seconded," "put" (real man-fashion), and carried unanimously, and Mrs. Stout, Mrs. Flint, and Miss Sawyer were appointed on the committee. "Good land!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout when the announcement was made, "I don't know anything about makin' rules 'cept for boys. Can I ask my husband to help?" "Certainly not," replied Mrs. Tweedie, firmly. "He would only laugh at you and us; besides, we need no assistance from the _other sex_." "Madam President," said Mrs. Flint as she arose and smoothed down her dress. (Where she got the "Madam President" idea no one knew, but it pleased the ladies immensely.) "I have read that in Congress they have a committee on ways and means. Will it be necessary for us to have a similar one?" "Well, I declare!" unceremoniously interrupted the uncontrollable Mrs. Stout. "The idea, and three of us married women with children. I say that when our first baby was born we was each of us appointed a committee on ways and means by the Lord." The laughter that followed was suddenly terminated upon the second entrance of Tommy Tweedie. "Ma," he bellowed, "Dora slapped my face and made my nose bleed, and pa laughed at me, and said it served me right." "My poor, dear, little son!" exclaimed Mrs. Tweedie as she rushed to him. "Tell mother how it happened," she added anxiously as she wiped the blood from the little villain's face. Tommy evaded the question by asking another. "Can I have some cake now, ma?" "Certainly you may. Ladies, if you will excuse me for a moment," said Mrs. Tweedie as she and Tommy left the room in quest of revenge and cake. "Did you ever!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout after the ladies had exchanged knowing glances for a moment. "I should say so!" piped Mrs. Flint. "I knew that he behaved badly in Sabbath school--"