"Ji--Kitty's cousin gave them to me."

"For the land's sake!" It required a moment for mother to find
further words. Then she continued accusingly: "I thought you were to
come home with Mrs. Allen and Kitty."

"Kitty got sick, and her mother had to take her home."

"Why didn't you come with them?"

"Oh, mother! I was having such a good time!" For the minute Missy
had forgotten there had been a shred of anything but "good time" in
the whole glorious evening. "And Mrs. Allen said I might stay and
come home with Jim and--"

"That will do," cut in mother severely. "You've taken advantage of
me, Missy. And don't let me hear evening party from you again this
summer!"

The import of this dreadful dictum did not penetrate fully to
Missy's consciousness. She was too confused in her emotions, just
then, to think clearly of anything.

"Go up to bed," said mother.

"May I put my flowers in water first?"

"Yes, but be quick about it."

Missy would have liked to carry the flowers up to her own room, to