"Not Dora, Auntie!" cried Bess; "she is perfect, and never makes a noise."
Mrs. Howard laughed, and went to see the lady of the Brown house, fearing she was undertaking too much for her strength.
But Miss Brown was quite sure of herself.
"If you knew how like spring sunshine they are in my sober life, you would see that it can only be a benefit to me," she said.
"Of course I think they are dear children, but I may be partial," their aunt replied, smiling.
"I discovered one secret of their attractiveness some time ago—they are fortunate children," and Miss Brown looked admiringly into the sweet face before her.
Promptly at three on Saturday afternoon the invited guests appeared. They were a little shy and silent at first after Bess introduced them to their hostess, but this wore off very quickly at the sight of five pairs of needles with the knitting already begun in bright worsteds.
Dora, who had learned to knit in Germany, was made assistant teacher, and for an hour they worked away diligently.
Then Miss Brown said they had done very well for beginners, and that it was time to stop and decide upon a name for their club.
The work was hardly put away when Nannie, the new maid, came in, bringing some of Mary's delicious cakes, and chocolate which was served in the oddest little cups brought by Miss Brown's grandfather from India when she was a child. Chocolate had never before tasted so good.