Now you an' Lois come real early, Esther." Mrs.Field's ideas of early, when invited to spend the afternoon and take tea, were primitive.

Directly after the dinner dishes were put away, about one o'clock, she spoke to Lois in the harsh, defiant tone she now used toward her.

"You'd better go an' get ready," said she.
"She wanted us to come early." A stubborn look came into Lois's face.

"I ain't going," said she, in an undertone.
"What did you say ?" "I ain't going." "Then you can stay to home, if you want to get your mother into trouble an' make folks think we're guilty of somethin'." Mrs.Field went into her bedroom to get ready.

Presently Lois went softly through on her way to her own.