"Oh, don't be bashful!" said Miss Priscilla, in a bitterly sarcastic tone. "Take all the butter on the plate, do. Perhaps you would like some of my fish?" A spark of fun gleamed in Calista's eyes. "Thank you, aunt; since you are so kind, I won't hurt your feelings by refusing. My walk has given me an appetite." And she coolly helped herself to the smallest of the fish. Miss Priscilla looked helplessly irritated at seeing herself taken at her word, and regaining possession of the dish, she hastily set it on the other side of her plate. Miss Druett suppressed a smile, and shook her head at Calista. "Well, and what is going on in town?" asked Miss Druett, presently. "Haven't you any news to tell us?" "There is a good deal going on in one way," said Calista. "The ladies are all very busy about this fair for furnishing the new parsonage house." "Rubbish!" said Miss Priscilla. "The girls are all going to work for it," continued Calista. "Miss McPherson gives them Wednesday afternoon, and they are each to make something for the sale." "Oh," said Miss Priscilla, with an unusually polite display of interest, "that seems a very nice plan of Miss McPherson's. I suppose she furnishes the materials?" "Of course she furnishes the materials for most of the girls' work. She buys all their silks and crewels, and so on, in Philadelphia." "And makes a good profit on them, no doubt. Trust a Scotch woman for that." "I don't know how that is," replied Calista. "She wanted Mr. Clapp to keep fine working materials, but he said the profit was not worth the risk and trouble. He does keep netting, thread, and silk, and a few other things." "Oh," said Miss Priscilla, again; "and what part do you intend to take in this notable display of industry and charity?" Calista made no answer, but passed her cup for some more tea. "One cup of tea is enough for a girl like you," said Miss Priscilla. "Do you hear me, Druey? I say one cup is enough." "Nonsense!" was the reply. "Let the child have her tea. I am sure it is not strong enough to hurt her." And she coolly filled the cup and returned it to Calista. "Oh, very well; of course it is for you to say. Perhaps, Miss Calista Stanfield, you will condescend to answer my question. What part are you intending to take in this matter?" "That is for you to say, Aunt Priscilla," replied Calista, in unruffled good humor. "You know very well that I have nothing of my own. I thought if I had some fine knitting cotton, I might knit a bureau cover, or something of that sort." "Oh! And how much might this same fine knitting cotton cost?" "About a quarter of a dollar, I suppose; perhaps thirty or forty cents." "Oh, indeed! Then I can tell you, Miss Calista Stanfield, you will have no twenty-five or thirty cents to spend on any such purpose. Twenty-five or thirty cents, indeed! Why not ask at once for twenty-five or thirty dollars?"