The Staying Guest

dy who never did anything by

at Primrose Hall, Miss Priscilla began to lay plans as to

d to the details of Ladybird's life with a great and large gusto; but in her planni

rder, and sudden death, the will of her young relative was of the sort tha

Greek tugs of war was in r

id, "you must see that it will be impos

g countenance, swaying back and forth in a tiny, old-fashioned

iece she must call her Ladybird. But the good lady compromised by using

dog here. What are you goi

at her aunt in a

y," she said. "Wher

both your Aunt Dorinda and I detest dogs, and

her aunt with gr

he said slowly; "but

her aunt, approvingly. "A

dybird, rising, with Clopp

in how to account for such docilit

iting the moppy mass in her aunt's

o was dancing through the hall, saw Martha appear and answer to the s

to the floor, "take that animal and dispose of it somehow. You may give it away or s

g up Cloppy, while Ladybird burst

little thin arm round the old lady's neck. "Martha, of course aunty is only

tha, glancing furtive

her old cheek, or whether her will bowed perforce to a super

dreamily curling a wisp of her aunt'

was so good, aunty, can'

sk Bridget to make one, and then come back here;

lf, as she walked slowly along the hall. S

Aunt Priscilla won't have the same ideas about clothe

ime determination to conquer in the fray, Ladybird came b

riscilla began, "are shocking,

her aunts had learned to regard as ominous. "Now I think they're real

e hideous. Now that white dress with the huge round red sp

y; "that's my very favoritest dress of all, and I wou

gaudy in coloring, Lavinia, and they must be discarded. I shall buy you some neat, quiet patter

her thin little face, and her long arms waving, while her whole body q

ring critically at her niece; "but I shall d

gazed thoughtfully at her aunt. After a f

better: it's such a 'normous plaid; but"-and Ladybird shook her forefinger decisively at her aunt-"it seems

dress again, Lavinia. Now the Dorcas Circle meets here this afternoon, and I wish you to do me credit. We

d lady, not threateningly, but as a token of final decision, "if I don't wea

quired Miss Priscilla, whose thoughts were alr

aunty; it's plain,

she started for the kitchen in the interests of the elaborate

head that betokened a completed plan

said to herself, "th

it on the bed. Then she knelt beside it, and burying her l

hornets, but she's mean! I wouldn't treat a little girl so. I wouldn't make her wear old mud-colored frocks when

issors and carefully cut out a score or more of the large disks from the condemned dress. She grew more cheerf

Spread out in stately grandeur on the bed lay the black silk dress t

its of red fabric at intervals over the black silk skirt and bodice. She worked dilig

ced the paste-pot, "I think it would be

ild and amiable-looking Ladybird walked t

e said, "and I won't be back

t this, for Ladybird often spent a wh

you go," said Miss Dorinda; "h

and Miss Priscilla, looking appr

e Dorcas ladies will

and I hope they'll think the r

diligently

iss Dorinda, as Ladybird disa

d Miss Priscilla, feeling rather irritated at ha

y and mischievous Ladybird, who dance

to leave yo

ou and bes