Amy neither obeyed, nor disobeyed, but managed to take her own time,
without any very deliberate intention to do so. Mrs. James, hoping to
get along with a sentence or two, took her German book into the nursery.
But this arrangement was not to master Charley's mind. A fig did he care
for German, but "the kitties," he must have, whether or no--and kitties
he would find in that particular book--so he turned its leaves over in
great haste. Half of the time on the second day of trial had gone, when
Amy returned and Mrs. James with a sigh, left her nursery. Before one
o'clock, she was twice called into the kitchen to superintend some
important dinner arrangement, and thus it turned out that she did not
finish one page of her letter.

On the third morning the sun shone, and Mrs. James rose early, made
every provision which she deemed necessary for dinner, and for the
comfort of her family; and then, elated by her success, in good spirits,
and with good courage, she entered her study precisely at eleven
o'clock, and locked her door. Her books were opened, and the challenge
given to a hard German lesson. Scarcely had she made the first onset,
when the door-bell was heard to ring, and soon Bridget coming nearer and
nearer--then tapping at the door.

"Somebodies wants to see you in the parlor, ma'am."

"Tell them I am engaged, Bridget."

"I told 'em you were to-home, ma'am, and they sent up their names, but I
ha'n't got 'em, jist."

There was no help for it--Mrs. James must go down to receive her
callers. She had to smile when she felt little like it--to be sociable