"Tell us about them, darling!" exclaimed one.

"Tell us!" said the other.

"--Us"--gasped the third.

Beatrice narrated her morning adventure with some spirit, praised her
new friends, defended them from any score of rudeness, and altogether
conjured up an interesting picture of them.

The Bells turned to walk with her. Matty hung on one arm, Alice on
another, Sophy hopped backwards in front. Before she quite knew that she
meant to do so, Beatrice had asked the Bells to join the tennis party
that evening. They accepted the invitation rapturously.

"Might Polly and Daisy Jenkins come too, and might Polly's brother come,
and if they met Mr. Jones, the curate--Mr. Jones did so love
tennis--might _he_ come?"

"Is the brother an officer in the real army?" inquired Matty.

"Real army--"

"Army--" echoed the others

Beatrice was able to assure them that Captain Bertram had nothing
spurious about him.

"I'll see you at seven," she added, nodding to her companions. "Yes, you