"I don't want that kind of fun," replied Katy, with energy in her
voice; "neither does Clover. And I can't imagine how the girls can
behave so. It isn't lady-like at all."

Katy was very fond of this word, lady-like. She always laid great
stress upon it. It seemed in some way to be connected with Cousin
Helen, and to mean every thing that was good, and graceful, and sweet.

"Dear me! I'd no idea you were so dreadfully proper," said Lilly,
pouting. "Mother said you were as prim and precise as your
grandmother; but I didn't suppose"--

"How unkind!" broke in Clover, taking fire, as usual, at any affront
to Katy. "Katy prim and precise! She isn't a bit! She's twice as
much fun as the rest of you girls; but it's nice fun,--not this horrid
stuff about students. I wish your mother wouldn't say such things!"

"I didn't--she didn't--I don't mean exactly that," stammered Lilly,
frightened by Clover's indignant eyes. "All I meant was, that Katy
is dreadfully dignified for her age, and we bad girls will have to
look out. You needn't be so mad, Clover; I'm sure it's very nice
to be proper and good, and set an example."

"I don't want to preach to anybody," said Katy, coloring, "and I
wasn't thinking about examples. But really and truly, Lilly, wouldn't
your mother, and all the girls' mothers, be shocked if they knew about
these performances here?"

"Gracious! I should think so; ma would kill me. I wouldn't have her