"Colonel Yush," said Bessie, "you didn't send me a yefuse."
"A what?"
"A yefuse to our party note."
"Oh, I understand. Did you want me to refuse?"
"Oh, no, we didn't want you to; but then we knew you couldn't come, because you are so lame."
"Will it do if you get an answer to-night?" said the colonel.
Bessie said that would do very well.
When they were going home, Mr. Bradford fell a little behind the rest, and called Maggie to him. "Maggie, dear," he said, "I do not want to find fault with my little girl on her birthday, but I do not think you feel very pleasantly towards Mrs. Jones."
"No, papa, I do not; I can't bear her; and the make-believe rabbit too! If you were seven, papa, and some one gave you such a thing, would you like it?"
"Perhaps not; but Mrs. Jones is a poor woman, and she gave you the best she had, thinking to please you."