"Good gracious!" she laughed. "Yes!"

The applicants flocked round her, urging contracts for what remained,
but they did not dislodge George from her side, though he made it
evident that they succeeded in annoying him; and presently he
extricated her from an accumulating siege--she must have connived in
the extrication--and bore her off to sit beside him upon the stairway
that led to the musicians' gallery, where they were sufficiently
retired, yet had a view of the room.

"How'd all those ducks get to know you so quick?" George inquired,
with little enthusiasm.

"Oh, I've been here a week."

"Looks as if you'd been pretty busy!" he said. "Most of those ducks,
I don't know what my mother wanted to invite 'em here for."

"Oh, I used to see something of a few of 'em. I was president of a
club we had here, and some of 'em belonged to it, but I don't care
much for that sort of thing any more. I really don't see why my
mother invited 'em."

"Perhaps it was on account of their parents," Miss Morgan suggested
mildly. "Maybe she didn't want to offend their fathers and mothers."

"Oh, hardly! I don't think my mother need worry much about offending
anybody in this old town."

"It must be wonderful," said Miss Morgan. "It must be wonderful, Mr.