By the time Dolores had made up her mind to take ‘Tom Brown,’ it was time for the general flight to prepare for dinner, and she found her room made to look very pleasant, and almost homelike, for her books and little knickknacks had been put out, not quite as she preferred, but still so as to make the place seem like her own. She was pleased enough to be quite gracious to Mysie and Val who came to visit her, and to offer to let them read any of her books; when they both thanked her and said-- ‘If mamma lets us.’ ‘Oh, then you won’t have them,’ said Dolores; ‘I’m not going to let her have my books to take away.’ ‘You don’t think she would take them away, when she said she wouldn’t?’ said Mysie, hotly. ‘Why, what would she do if she didn’t happen to approve of them?’ ‘Only tell us not to read them.’ ‘And wouldn’t you?’ ‘Why, Dolores!’ in such a tone as made her ashamed of her question; and she said, ‘Well, father never makes any fuss about what I read. He has other things to think of.’ ‘How do you get books, then?’ ‘I buy them. And Maude Sefton, she’s my great friend, has lots given to her, but nobody bothers about reading them. They aren’t grown-up books, you know.’ ‘How stupid,’ said Val. ‘You had better read the ‘Talisman,’ and then you’ll see how nice a grown-up book is.’ ‘The ‘Talisman!’ Why, Maude Sefton’s brother had to get it up for his holiday task, and he said it was all rot and bosh.’ ‘What a horridly stupid boy he must be,’ returned Mysie. ‘Why, I remember when Jasper once had the ‘Talisman’ to do, and the big ones were so delighted. Mamma read it out, and I was just old enough to listen. I remembered all about Sir Kenneth and Roswal.’ ‘Tom Sefton’s not stupid!’ said Dolores, in wrath; ‘but--but the book is stupid and out of date! I heard father and the professor say it was gone by.’ Mysie and Valetta looked perfectly astounded, and Dolores pursued her advantage. ‘Of course it is all very well for you that have never lived in London, nor had any advantages.’ ‘But we have advantages!’ cried Val. ‘You don’t know what advantages are,’ said Dolores. ‘There’s the gong,’ cried Mysie, and down they all plunged into the dining-room, where the family were again collected, with Hal at one end and his mother at the other. Dolores was amazed when, at the first pause, after every one was help, Valetta’s voice arose. ‘Mamma, what are advantages?’ ‘Don’t you know, Val?’ ‘Dolores says we haven’t any. And I said we have. And she says I don’t know what advantages are.’ Hal and Gillian were both laughing with all their might. Their mother kept her countenance, and said-- ‘I suppose every one has advantages of some sort, and perhaps without knowing them.’ ‘I’m sure I know,’ cried Fergus. ‘Well, what are they?’ asked Harry. ‘Having mamma!’ cried the little boy.