dinner nor nothing, you know."

The Katy of two years ago would probably have jumped at this idea. But
the Katy of to-day was more considerate.

"N-o," she said; "I don't like to do that. We must just make the best of
it, Bridget. Run down, Clover, dear, that's a good girl! and tell Mrs.
Worrett that the dining-room is all in confusion, but that we're going
to have lunch here, and, after she's rested, I should be glad to have
her come up. And, oh, Clovy! give her a fan the first thing. She'll be
_so_ hot. Bridget, you can bring up the luncheon just the same, only
take out some canned peaches, by way of a dessert, and make Mrs. Worrett
a cup of tea. She drinks tea always, I believe.

"I can't bear to send the poor old lady away when she has come so far,"
she explained to Elsie, after the others were gone. "Pull the
rocking-chair a little this way, Elsie. And oh! push all those little
chairs back against the wall. Mrs. Worrett broke down in one the last
time she was here--don't you recollect?"

It took some time to cool Mrs. Worrett off, so nearly twenty minutes
passed before a heavy, creaking step on the stairs announced that the
guest was on her way up. Elsie began to giggle. Mrs. Worrett always made
her giggle. Katy had just time to give her a warning glance before the
door opened.

Mrs. Worrett was the most enormously fat person ever seen. Nobody dared
to guess how much she weighed, but she looked as if it might be a
thousand pounds. Her face was extremely red. In the coldest weather she
appeared hot, and on a mild day she seemed absolutely ready to melt. Her