Larry thought this very droll. "Isn't she cunning?" he said. "But what can she mean?"
"Your mother puts your hair into a nightcap!" cried Abby. "Those are curl papers, I suppose."
"No, nightcaps," insisted the little one. "That's the right name."
The children puzzled over it for some time; but finally Aunt Kitty came to the rescue, and explained that she rolled them on bits of muslin or cotton, to give them the soft, pretty appearance which Abby so much admired; because Claire's father liked her to have curls, and the poor child's hair was naturally as straight as a pipe stem.
"Come and see our chapel, Claire," said Abby; the word oratory did not yet come trippingly to her tongue.
Claire was delighted with the beautiful image, and behaved as decorously as if she were in church. Afterward the children took her to walk. They went into the park, in which there were many handsome flower-pots, several fountains, and a number of fine pieces of marble statuary. Claire seemed to be much impressed with the latter.
"Oh, my!" she exclaimed, pointing to them reverently. "Look at all the
Blessed Virgins!"
The children laughed. She stood looking at them with a little frown, not having quite made up her mind whether to join in their mirth, or to be vexed. When her mistake was explained to her, she said, with a pout:
"Well, if they are not Blessed Virgins, then I don't care about them, and I'm going home."
The children had promptly sent a note to Father Dominic thanking him for his appropriate May-Day gift. Each had a share in the composition of this acknowledgment, but it had been carefully copied by Abby. Later they had the satisfaction of showing him the oratory. While Claire was with them, he happened to call again one evening just as the young people were saying good-night.