"If it contains only a little tea, perhaps the effect upon the children would not be deleterious." "We'll try it," said Aunt Delia, reaching for the ladle at sight of empty cups in the hands of Mrs.Judge Robinson and Mrs.Westley Keyts.
"_I'll_ furnish the cherries and the sugar and the tea." How it came about was never quite understood by the ladies, but the true and formal note of a Ladies' Home Study Club was never once struck that afternoon.

Madam the President did not call the meeting to order, the minutes of the last meeting are unread to this day, and a motion to adjourn never became necessary.
It had been thought wisest to keep entirely away from poetry at this meeting, and the paper for the day, to have been read by Marcella Eubanks, was "The Pathos of Charles Dickens." Marcella had taken unusual pains in its preparation, bringing with her two volumes of the author from which to read at the right moment the deaths of Little Nell and Paul Dombey.

She had practised these until she could make her voice quaver effectively, and she had looked forward to a genuine ovation when she sat down.
[Illustration: "WE MIGHT GET HIM TO MAKE A BARREL OF IT FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL PICNIC."] If it is clearly understood, then, that no one thought of calling for the paper, that even its proud author felt the hours gliding by without any poignant regret, it should be seen that the occasion had strangely come to be one of pure and joyous relaxation, with never an instructive or cultured or studious moment.
There was talk of domestic concerns, sprightly town gossip, mirth, wit, and anecdotes.

Aunt Delia McCormick told her parrot story, which was _risque_, even when no gentlemen were present, for the parrot said "damn it!" in the course of his surprisingly human repartee under difficulties.
Mrs.Westley Keyts, the bars being down, thereupon began another parrot story.

But Miss Eubanks, who had observed that all parrot stories have "damn" in them, suddenly conceived that matters had gone far enough in _that_ direction.