“‘Harry,’ said Lottie, ‘you come and finish winding this thread while I go and see about dinner; we are going to have a real old-fashioned dinner to-day; mind you don’t tangle my thread; Viola, as soon as you get through with that hank you’ll find three more in my basket; I want you to hold them while Harry winds them off; will you, dear?’ “‘Yes, Lottie,’ was the soft reply. “‘Lottie loves Ed! Lottie loves Ed! here we come, Lottie!’ screamed old Roderick, who was peeping down from the top of the wardrobe. “‘Hush up, you old tattler! you needn’t tell all my secrets before company,’ said Lottie; and, taking me by the arm: ‘Come, you must go and help me get dinner; we don’t uphold any idleness here.’ “I divined her object, and followed her from the room, as it was evident she wanted to leave Harry and Viola alone. “‘You are the sweetest darling in the whole world, Lottie!’ said I; ‘you can think of so many ways to make people comfortable and happy.’ “‘I am truly glad you think so; I am always happy when you are pleased with me.’ “‘You will always be happy, then, for I am always pleased with you.’ “‘Do you think Harry and Viola will ever make matters up, and be as they were in the good old days?’ “‘Yes, certainly I do; Harry’s pride has undergone considerable shrinkage since Viola’s troubles commenced, and I think he will be glad to come down from his lofty hobby.’ “‘You must put your wits to work, Eddie, so as to help me bring them to an understanding. I am going to have dinner served in Viola’s room, and you must assist in keeping up the conversation, and not sit there looking as if you had a blister-plaster over your mouth, as you did a while ago, but try to invent something to talk about. Now come along, and I’ll put you to work,’ and she led me to the steward’s headquarters. “‘Mr. Toddleburg,’ said Lottie, ‘I want you to help me get a good dinner to-day, to be served in Miss Bramlett’s room; will you do it?’ “‘How could anybody refuse to do anything when requested by Miss Wallingford?’ “‘Thank you, thank you, Mr. Toddleburg; you are very kind.’ “As Lottie passed on and entered the cook-room, the little man said to me: “‘That is the prettiest young lady I ever saw, sir, and she is as good as she is pretty. I’ll do anything to please her.’ “‘Why don’t you come along, Eddie? I mean to put you to work; you shall not be idle here. Take those eggs and break them in that bowl, and beat them well, while I get some flour and sugar; I am going to teach you how to make a real nice pudding.’ “I broke the eggs as she directed, and began to beat them very awkwardly, while I watched her beautiful form moving about like a fairy, her sleeves rolled up, exposing to view the prettiest pair of round, plump, white arms that any man ever saw. By the time I had finished beating the eggs she was measuring the flour into a tray. “‘There now,’ said I, ‘my job is finished, Lottie; I think I have earned a kiss, and I demand payment.’