Her talk was about herself. Such stories she told about the things
which had happened to her! All the young ladies in The Ledger put
together, never had stranger adventures. Gradually, Katy and Clover got
so interested that they left their seats and crouched down close to the
sofa, listening with open mouths to these stories. Katy forgot to
listen for Aunt Izzie. The parlor door swung open, but she did not
notice it. She did not even hear the front door shut, when Papa came
home to dinner.

Dr. Carr, stopping in the hall to glance over his newspaper, heard the
high-pitched voice running on in the parlor. At first he hardly
listened; then these words caught his ear:

"Oh, it was lovely, girls, perfectly delicious! I suppose I did look
well, for I was all in white, with my hair let down, and just one rose,
you know, here on top. And he leaned over me, and said in a low, deep
tone, 'Lady, I am a Brigand, but I feel the enchanting power of your
beauty. You are free!'"

Dr. Carr pushed the door open a little farther. Nothing was to be seen
but some indistinct figures, but he heard Katy's voice in an eager tone:

"Oh, _do_ go on. What happened next?"

"Who on earth have the children got in the parlor?" he asked Aunt Izzie,
whom he found in the dining-room.

"The parlor!" cried Miss Izzie, wrathfully, "why, what are they there
for?" Then going to the door, she called out, "Children, what are you
doing in the parlor? Come out right away. I thought you were playing