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Charlie Sands came to have tea with us yesterday at Tish’s. He is just back from England and full of the subject.

“But after all,” he said, “the Simple Lifers take the palm. Think of it, my three revered and dearly beloved spinster friends; think of the peace, the holy calm of it! Now, if you three would only drink less tea and once in a while would get back to Nature a bit, it would be good for you. You’re all too civilized.”

“Probably,” said Tish, pulling down her sleeves to hide her sunburned hands. “But do you think people have so much time in the–er–woods?”

“Time!” he repeated. “Why, what is there to do?”

Just then the doorbell rang and a huge box was carried in. Tish had a warning and did not wish to open it, but Charlie Sands insisted and cut the string. Inside were three sets of sable furs, handsomer than any in the church, Tish says, and I know I’ve never seen any like them.

Tish and I hid the cards, but Aggie dropped hers and Charlie Sands pounced on it.

“‘The sleeve is now about Dorothea,'” he read aloud, and then, turning, eyed us all sternly.

“Now, then,” said Charlie Sands, “out with it! What have you been up to this time?”

Tish returned his gaze calmly. “We have been in the Maine woods in the holy calm,” she said. “As for those furs, I suppose a body may buy a set of furs if she likes.” This, of course, was not a lie. “As for that card, it’s a mistake.” Which it was indeed.

“But–Dorothea!” persisted Charlie Sands.

“Never in my life knew anybody named Dorothea. Did you, Aggie?”

“Never,” said Aggie firmly.

Charlie Sands apologized and looked thoughtful. On Tish’s remaining rather injured, he asked us all out to dinner that night, and almost the first thing he ordered was frogs’ legs. Aggie got rather white about the lips.

“I–I think I’ll not take any,” she said feebly. “I–I keep thinking of Tish tickling their throats with the hairpin, and how Percy–“

We glared at her, but it was too late. Charlie Sands drew up his chair and rested his elbows on the table.

“So there was a Percy as well as a Dorothea!” he said cheerfully. “I might have known it. Now we’ll have the story!”