"Why? Who's going to the hotel?" cried the school-girls, in a chorus.

"I am," said Dr. Carr, putting his head in at the door, with a smile
which captivated every girl there. "Come, Katy; come, Clover. I've
decided that you sha'n't begin school till to-morrow."

"Oh, my! Don't I wish he was my pa!" cried Rose Red. Then the stage
moved on.

"Who are they? What's their name?" asked the girls. "They look nice."

"They're sort of cousins of mine, and they come from the West," replied
Lilly, not unwilling to own the relationship, now that she perceived
that Dr. Carr had made a favorable impression.

"Why on earth didn't you introduce them, then? I declare that was
just like you, Lilly Page," put in Rose Red, indignantly. "They
looked so lonesome that I wanted to pat and stroke both of 'em. That
little one has the sweetest eyes!"

Meantime Katy and Clover entered the hotel, very glad of the reprieve,
and of one more quiet evening alone with papa. They needed to get
their ideas straightened out and put to rights, after the confusions
of the day and Lilly's extraordinary talk. It was very evident that
the Nunnery was to be quite different from their expectations; but
another thing was equally evident,--it would not be dull! Rose Red
by herself, and without any one to help her, would be enough to
prevent that!