"Mr. Richmond did not say any such thing!" said Matilda, indignantly.
"What did he say? What was all this last night's talk about?" said Anne. "I did not understand half of it. Was it against red flowers, or red anything?"
"I did not understand any of it," said Mrs. Englefield.
"Why, mamma, I told you all, as plain as could be," said Maria. "I told you he made a Band——"
"He didn't," interrupted Matilda; "the Band made themselves."
But at this, the shout that went round the breakfast-table threatened to endanger the dishes.
"It's no use trying to talk," said Maria, sullenly, "if you laugh so. I told you there was a Band; ever so many of us rose up and agreed that we would belong to it."
"Matilda, are you in it too?" the mother asked.
"No, mamma."
"Why not? How comes that?"