CHAPTER XVII.
_AFTER THE BATTLE_.
"Well, Grace, the Follingsbees are gone at last, I am thankful to say," said John, as he stretched himself out on the sofa in Grace's parlor with a sigh of relief.

"If ever I am caught in such a scrape again, I shall know it." "Yes, it is all well over," said Grace.
"Over! I wish you would look at the bills.

Why, Gracie! I had not the least idea, when I gave Lillie leave to get what she chose, what it would come to, with those people at her elbow, to put things into her head.

I could not interfere, you know, after the thing was started; and I thought I would not spoil Lillie's pleasure, especially as I had to stand firm in not allowing wine.

It was well I did; for if wine had been given, and taken with the reckless freedom that all the rest was, it might have ended in a general riot." "As some of the great fashionable parties do, where young women get merry with champagne, and young men get drunk," said Grace.
"Well," said John, "I don't exactly like the whole turn of the way things have been going at our house lately.