PoorMeghadarestlessnight，andgotupheavy-eyed，unhappy，halfresentfultowardherfriends，andhalfashamedofherselffornotspeakingoutfranklyandsettingeverythingright。Everybodydawdledthatmorning，anditwasnoonbeforethegirlsfoundenergyenougheventotakeuptheirworstedwork。SomethinginthemannerofherfriendsstruckMegatonce。Theytreatedherwithmorerespect，shethought，tookquiteatenderinterestinwhatshesaid，andlookedatherwitheyesthatplainlybetrayedcuriosity。Allthissurprisedandflatteredher，thoughshedidnotunderstandittillMissBellelookedupfromherwriting，andsaid，withasentimentalair……
“Daisy，dear，I’vesentaninvitationtoyourfriend，Mr。
Laurence，forThursday。Weshouldliketoknowhim，andit’sonlyapropercomplimenttoyou。“
Megcolored，butamischievousfancytoteasethegirlsmadeherreplydemurely，“Youareverykind，butI’mafraidhewon’tcome。“
“Whynot，Cherie？“askedMissBelle。