Nannie quaked. "Do you mean to have them come to supper?"

"You can call it 'supper'; I call it dinner."

"I'm afraid Mamma won't like it; it will disturb the table."

"I'm not going to have it in that hole of a dining-room; I'm
going to have it in the parlor. Harris says he can manage
perfectly well. We'll hang a curtain across the arch and have the
table in the back parlor."

"But Harris can't wait on us in there, and on Mamma in the
dining-room," Nannie objected.

"We shall have our dinner at seven, after Harris has given mother
her supper on that beautiful table of hers."

"But--" said Nannie.

"You tell her about it," Blair coaxed; "she'll take anything from
you."

Nannie yielded. Instructed by Blair, she hinted his purpose to
Mrs. Maitland, who to her surprise consented amiably enough.

"I've no objections. And the back parlor is a very sensible
arrangement. It would be a nuisance to have you in here; I don't
like to have things moved. Now clear out! Clear out! I must go to
work." A week later she issued her orders: "Mr. Ferguson, I'll be
obliged if you'll come to supper to-morrow night. Blair has some