Mr. Humphreys was most willing to sing, so Ladybird brought the banjo, and Stella began to play. The girl had a real talent for music, and not only played well, but sang with a beautiful, though untrained voice. Together they sang many of the popular airs of the day; and then, at the request of the older ladies, they sang old-time songs, catches, and glees. Ladybird could sing these too, and though her voice was shrill and light, it rang clear and true. Stella, in her white gown, looked very fair and sweet as she sat in a veranda rocker swaying to and fro to the time of her banjo; and when, promptly at ten o'clock, Miss Flint announced that she must send her home, Chester Humphreys half hoped that he might be allowed to escort her. But Miss Priscilla ordered that Martha should take charge of the young lady, and Humphreys disappointedly refrained from offering his services. "Your Stella is very beautiful," he said to Ladybird after Miss Russell had gone. "Yes," said Ladybird, calmly; "I told you so." "And she looks amiable as well." "She is," said Ladybird, earnestly; "she is the amiablest girl on the face of the great round world. She can't refuse anybody anything. That's why it's so hard for her to say she won't marry Charley Hayes. But now she won't have to, so it's all right." "Lavinia," said Miss Priscilla Flint, with her sternest and most decided air, "once for all, now, you are to stop that wicked nonsense. Unless you do, I shall lock you in your room and keep you there until you are ready to obey me." "Goodness gracious me!" said Ladybird, laughing, "whatever could I do--staying in my room so long? I do so like to play out of doors. Now it seems to me that you and Aunt Dorinda ought to be locked in your rooms until this matter is all settled, for you certainly do interfere with my plans." "Go to bed at once, Lavinia," said Miss Priscilla, in cold, level tones; "at once, I say! Not another word!" "Yes, aunty, certainly," said Ladybird, making no move to go, however. "Miss Flint," said Humphreys, "as I am, in a way, a part of this situation, couldn't I be permitted to discuss it with little Miss Lovell?" "I should be very glad, Mr. Humphreys," said Miss Flint, "if you could say anything to my niece that would cause her to behave like a rational human being." "Then, child," said Chester Humphreys, turning to Ladybird, "I will ask you a few straightforward questions." "Do," said Ladybird, looking at him with an air of such intense interest that the young man felt a little discomfited. "First," he said, "do you realize that a child of twelve--" "Fourteen," corrected Miss Priscilla. "Very well--that a child of fourteen has no right to meddle with the love-affairs of a young lady of twenty-one?"