Is your mamma well ?" "I suppose so; she was when we heard last, a day or two ago.

She is at Newport, Aunt Elsie; she found herself so worn out, she said, with attending to the claims of society, that a trip to the seashore was quite a necessity.

Do you put the claims of society before everything else, Aunt Elsie ?" "Indeed no," returned Elsie, with a happy laugh.

"I'm afraid I put them last on my list: husband, baby, mother, grandpa, brothers and sisters, all come before society with me." "So they shall with me when I'm a woman," said Evelyn with decision; "and papa shall always, _always_ be first.

I don't know how mamma can bear to be away from him so much; especially now when he is so weak and ailing.
And I am quite mortified that she is not here to welcome you.