played tag. And so we went----.


Chester ceased reading and stood up. For Mlle. Chapdelaine was rising.
All the men rose.

"And so, also," she said, "I too must go."

"Oh, but the story is juz' big-inning," Mme. Alexandra protested, and
Mme. De l'Isle said:

"I'm sure 'twill turn out magnificent, yes!"

Mademoiselle declared the tale fascinating. She "would be enchanted to
stay," but her aunts _must_ be considered, etc.; and when Chester
confessed the reading would require another session anyhow Mmes. De
l'Isle and Alexandre arose, and M. Castanado asked aloud if there was
any of the company who could not return a week from that evening.

No one was so unlucky. "But!" cried Mme. Alexandre, "why not to my
parlor?"

"Because!" said Mme. Castanado, to Chester's vivid enlightenment,
"every week-day, all day, you have mademoiselle with you."

"With me, ah, no! me forever down in my shop, and mademoiselle
incessantly upstair'!"

Mme. Castanado prevailed. That same room, one week later.