Miss Leech and Sam Scott were then presented together. Ladybird didn't do this for the logical reason that two half-witted people ought to count as one, but because she was impatient to get the introductions over with and begin the party. Miss Leech wandered a little, confused the ladies' names, and asked Miss Priscilla if she had paid off her mortgage yet. Sam Scott wandered a great deal, and grasping Miss Priscilla's hand, shook it up and down continuously, while he babbled, "Beautiful day, beautiful day, beautiful, beautiful day, beautiful day, beautiful--" He was still expressing his opinion of the weather when Stella led him away and seated him in a corner with a picture-book to look at. By this time Miss Priscilla had reached that state of mind which can only be described as the obstupefaction of the tumultuous. Her brain was benumbed by rapid and successive emotions, and as the climax of each had proved absurdly inadequate to the situation, Miss Priscilla was perforce in a condition of helpless docility, and Ladybird recognized this, and was not slow to take advantage of it. Realizing that her aunt had interests, or at least memory, in common with Major Harris, she contrived to establish the two on a comfortable old sofa, where, despite the differences of the present, they were soon lost in the past. Then Ladybird, with her natural talent for generalship, but with a tact and ability really beyond her years, arranged her other guests to the happy satisfaction of each. Miss Dorinda found herself entertaining, or rather being entertained by, Mrs. Taylor, and each of these ladies held one of the romping twins, and actually seemed to enjoy it. Miss Leech required no entertaining save to be allowed to wander about at will, touching with timid, delicate fingers the ornaments or curios about the room, and making happy, though inarticulate, comments upon them. Then Ladybird and Stella devoted themselves to the amusement of the rest of the guests, who were all children and easily pleased by playing games or listening to Stella while she sang funny songs to her banjo accompaniment. During one of these songs, Ladybird slipped out to the kitchen in search of Martha and Bridget, who were as yet unacquainted with the character of the Primrose Hall guests. "I expect they'll raise Cain," she said to herself; "but I feel like Alexander to-day, and I'd just as soon conquer a few more worlds as not. "Martha," she began in a conciliatory tone, though determination lurked beneath her eyelashes, "the people who have come to my party are not the ones I expected to invite at first. They're--they're different." "Yes, miss," said Martha, impassively. "And two of them are lame, Martha, and two of them are babies, and two of them are not quite right in their heads." "Luny, miss?"