"I don't know about taste, Papa," she said; "but how ever we'll keep all that white paint beats me. I'm thinking it'll be either me or Jessie that'll have to do it. I could not trust Annie in here, poor girl! She has such hashy ways. Now, Alick," to that youth who had sprung on her from behind, "try and behave well to-night, and not shame your sister before the Simpsons that she thinks so much of. I'm told Ewan Simpson was a perfect gentleman in an Eton suit at their party." "Haw, haw!" laughed Alick derisively. "Who's wantin' to be a gentleman? Not me, anyway. Here, Mamma, are you going to ask wee Taylor to sing? Uch, do, he's a comic----" "Alick," said his father reprovingly. "Mr. Taylor's not coming here to-night for you to laugh at." "I know that," said Alick, rolling his head and looking somewhat abashed. The entrance of Jessie and Robert diverted his parents' attention. Jessie stood in the middle of the room and slowly turned herself round that her family might see her from all points of view. "D'you like it, Mamma?" she asked. "Yes, Jessie," said her mother slowly, "I do. Miss White's done well. The skirt hangs beautiful, and I must say the Empire style is becoming to you, though for myself I prefer the waist in its natural place. Walk to the door--yes--elegant." "Very fine, Jessie," said her father. "Do you like it, Robert?" asked Jessie. Robert put down his book for a moment, glanced at his sister, nodded his head and said "Ucha," then returned to it. "You're awful proud, Jessie," said Alick; "you think you're somebody." "Never mind him, Jessie," said Mrs. Thomson. "Are ye sure we've got enough cups? Nobody'll be likely to take both tea and coffee, I suppose? Except mebbe Mr. Taylor--I whiles think that wee man's got both eatin' and drinkin' diabetes. I must say it seems to me a cold-like thing to let them sit from eight to ten without a bite. My way was to invite them at six and give them a hearty set-down tea, and then at ten we had supper, lemonade and jam tartlets and fruit, and I'm sure nothing could have been nicer. Many a one has said to me, 'Mrs. Thomson, they're no parties like your parties; they're that hearty.' How ever'll they begin the evening when they're not cheered with a cup o' tea?" "We'll begin with music, Mamma," said Jessie. Mrs. Thomson sniffed. "I do hope Annie'll manage the showing in all right," went on Jessie. "The Simpsons had one letting you in and another waiting in the bedrooms to help you off with your things." Mrs. Thomson drew herself up. "My friends are all capable of taking off their own things, Jessie, I'm thankful to say. They don't need a lady's maid; nor does Mrs. Simpson, let me tell you, for when I first knew her she did her own washing." "Uch, Mamma," said Jessie. "It's five minutes to eight," said Alick, "and I hear steps. I bet it's wee Taylor."