such a short time?" asked Aunt Izzie, in an unpromising tone.

"Oh, she tells me everything! We always walk together at recess now. I
know all about her, and she's just lovely! Her father used to be real
rich, but they're poor now, and Imogen had to have her boots patched
twice last winter. I guess she's the flower of her family. You can't
think how I love her!" concluded Katy, sentimentally.

"No, I can't," said Aunt Izzie. "I never could see into these sudden
friendships of yours, Katy, and I'd rather you wouldn't invite this
Imogen, or whatever her name is, till I've had a chance to ask somebody
about her."

Katy clasped her hands in despair. "Oh, Aunt Izzie!" she cried, "Imogen
knows that I came in to ask you, and she's standing at the gate at this
moment, waiting to hear what you say. Please let me, just this once! I
shall be so dreadfully ashamed not to."

"Well," said Miss Izzie, moved by the wretchedness of Katy's face, "if
you've asked her already, it's no use my saying no, I suppose. But
recollect, Katy, this is not to happen again. I can't have you inviting
girls, and then coming for my leave. Your father won't be at all
pleased. He's very particular about whom you make friends with. Remember
how Mrs. Spenser turned out."

Poor Katy! Her propensity to fall violently in love with new people was
always getting her into scrapes. Ever since she began to walk and talk,
"Katy's intimate friends" had been one of the jokes of the household.

Papa once undertook to keep a list of them, but the number grew so great