IT was true. The house was spooky. Robert found a book from which he learned incantations. Sara spent her time in conjuring. The Marcey house seemed peopled with strange presences, and Jamie, who during this duel was neglected, wept.
Alice felt she had enough to bear without her Mother-in-law arriving with one large yellow balloon—just one single balloon, and that for Sara. Every one who has any children knows that there is nothing more destructive to the domestic peace than a present to one child in the family alone, and Alice knew only too well that Sara would use this toy for the purpose vulgarly known as "getting Robert's goat."
Alice was right. Sara used her balloon shamelessly, not only for the discomfiture of Robert, but, this being a moment when all males were distasteful to her, she flaunted it before the eyes of the poor, famished Jamie. Alice was glad when, with a peacocking walk, Sara and her balloon departed to Mrs. Painter's. Alice cast a searching look on her Mother-in-law, hoping that she might have noticed what havoc this inadequate present had caused. But the elder Mrs. Marcey was knitting placidly; she had brought her work for the afternoon.
Very soon came the sound of Sara's feet upon the stairs. But instead of descending upon her mother as she usually did when she returned from Mrs. Painter's, full of new fairy lore and tales of canary birds who ate from one's mouth, Sara continued up the stairs. Instead of rushing up them with a glad little patter, Alice
