If Miss Brown had something to say--and of course she did have something (she would have been disgraced, otherwise)--she said it. Then each in turn was asked, after which the discussion was open to all. They were lively meetings. No wonder small brothers and sisters and cousins hung entranced on every word. No wonder, too, that at last, one day, quite carried away with the enthusiasm of the moment, they made so bold as to have something to say on their own account. It happened like this: "Texas is the largest state in the Union," announced Bertha Brown, who had been called on first. "It has an area about one twelfth as large as that of the whole United States. If all the population of the country were placed there, the state would not be as thickly settled as the eastern shore of Massachusetts is. Six different flags have waved over it since its discovery two hundred years ago: France, Spain, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States of America, and the Star Spangled Banner." "Pooh! I said most of that two days ago," muttered Tilly, not under breath. "Well, I can't help it," pouted Bertha; "there isn't very much new left to say, Tilly Mack, and you know it. Besides, I didn't have a minute's time this morning to look up a single thing." "Order--order in the court," rapped Cordelia, sharply. "Oh, but it doesn't matter a bit if we do say the same things," protested Alma Lane, quickly. (Alma was always trying to make peace between combatants.) "I'm sure we shall remember it all the better if we do repeat it." "Of course we shall," agreed Cordelia, promptly. "Now, Alma--I mean Miss Lane--" (this title-giving was brand-new, having been introduced as a special mark of dignity fitting to the occasion; and it was not easy to remember!)--"perhaps you will tell us what you have found out." "Well, the climate is healthful," began Alma, hopefully. "Texas is less subject to malarial diseases than any of the other states on the Gulf of Mexico. September is the most rainy month; December the least. The mean annual temperature near the mouth of the Rio Grande is 72°; while along the Red River the mean annual temperature is only 80°. In the northwestern part of the state the mean annual--" "Alma, please," begged Tilly, in mock horror, raising both her hands, "_please_ don't give us any more of those mean annual temperatures. I'm sure if they can be any _meaner_ than the temperature right here to-day is," she sighed, as she fell to fanning herself vigorously, "I don't want to know what it is!" "Tilly!" gasped Cordelia, in shocked disapproval. "What would Genevieve say!" Tilly shrugged her shoulders. "Say? She wouldn't say anything--she couldn't," declared Tilly, unexpectedly, "because she'd be laughing at us so for digging into Texas like this and unearthing all its poor little secrets!"