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to have a party, are we!" exclaimed Mr. Legrange raising
his eyebrows in dismay.
"Just half a dozen children to play with 'Toinette, and to go home after
a nursery-tea," explained his wife.
"Oh, well! I shall be a little late to dinner, very likely: so it will all be
over when I arrive. Shall I bring Tom Burroughs home with me to
dine?"
"I want Cousin Tommy to come to my party, papa. Tell him to come,
please, and Sunshine's love."
"Your party, chick? Why! he would be Gulliver among the Liliputians.
He would tread on a dozen of the guests at the first step, and never
know it."
"I don't think he would, papa; and he's my little wife, and I want him,"
persisted 'Toinette.
"No, no, dear," interposed Mrs. Legrange. "Cousin Tom wouldn't want
to come, and my little girl mustn't tease."

"No, mamma; but he's my little wife," murmured 'Toinette, going back
to her bracelets with a shadow of disappointment in the curve of her
pretty mouth.
"If mamma is willing, I will ask Cousin Tom, and he can do as he likes
about accepting," said the fond father, watching his Sunshine's face.
Mamma smiled roguishly, murmuring,--"'So long as a woman's
possessed of a tear, She'll always have her own way;'" and then, added
aloud,--
"Just as you like, of course, papa; but here is Susan, ready to take
'Toinette for her walk."
The dining-room door opened softly, and a fresh, pretty-looking
nursery-maid stepped in, saying
"Is Miss 'Toinette ready to come up stairs, ma'am?"
Yes, Susan. You may take the bracelets, pet; but, when you go out,
leave them in the drawer of your bureau."
"Yes, mamma. Good-by, mamma and papa; and don't forget my little
wife, papa."
"I won't forget, Sunshine," said Mr. Legrange, laughing, as he followed
the child and nurse to the door, and watched them up stairs.
CHAPTER II.
THE LITTLE WIFE.

THREE o'clock came at last, although 'Toinette had become fully
persuaded it never would; and the little guests arrived as punctually as
juvenile guests are apt to arrive. Later on in life, people either expect
less pleasure from meeting each other, or are more willing to defer
securing it; or perhaps it is that they are willing to allow their friends

the first chance of appropriating the happiness in store for all. If none
of these, what is the reason, children, that, at grown parties, the struggle
is to see who shall arrive last, while at ours it is to see who shall come
first?
'Toinette was dressed, and in the drawing-room ready to receive her
little friends, by half-past two; and very nice she looked in her
light-blue merino frock, with its pretty embroideries, her long golden
hair curled in the feathery ringlets Susan was so proud of making, her
sleeves looped up with new bracelets, and a little embroidered
handkerchief just peeping out of her pockets
Mrs. Legrange, who sat reading by the fire, watched with some
amusement and more anxiety the movements of the little beauty, who
walked slowly up and down the room, twisting her head to look now at
one shoulder and now at the other, now at the flow of her skirts behind,
and now at the dainty fit of her bronze cloth gaiter-boots. At last,
stopping before the long mirror, Miss 'Toinette began practicing the
courtesy she had learned at dancing-school, finishing by throwing a
kiss from the tips of her fingers to the graceful little shadow in the
mirror.
"She will be spoiled, entirely spoiled, before she is a year older,"
thought the mother anxiously. "She is so beautiful! and every one tells
her of it. What shall I do?"
But sometimes, when our task seems too difficult for us, God takes it
into his own hand, and does it in his own way, though that way to us be
strange and painful.
While Mrs. Legrange still hesitated whether to speak, and what to say,
the doorbell rang, and 'Toinette rushed away to meet her friends, and
take them to the dressing room, where they were to leave their outside
garments; and the mother laid aside her book, and prepared to help in
entertaining the little people.
Another ring at the bell; another troop of little feet, and peal of merry
voices; another and another; and, following the last, a firmer step upon

the stair, and the appearance in the drawing-room of a tall, fine-looking
young man, of twenty two or three years old, who came forward,
offering his hand to Mrs. Legrange.
"Why, Tom," said she, "did you really come?"
"As you see, Cousin Fanny. Paul gave me the invitation, with my little
wife's love; and how could I decline?"
"I am sure it is very good of you to come and