Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/210

188 My mischievous little cousin has been experimenting with my hairpins, without my knowing it. Please excuse me a minute.” And with flaming cheeks she fled to her room.

She was back almost immediately, but not before the gentlemen had enjoyed a hearty  though smothered laugh, and Mr. Muir had  inquired,—

“Is this a sample of the fine influence she has on small boys?”

The conversation was once more running smoothly, and Bess was just losing the recollection of her mortifying experience, when a  little sound caught her ears, a light, stealthy  footstep that cautiously advanced to the drawn  portière, and then retreated. Five minutes later they all gave a sudden start of surprise, as the vigorous, clattering alarm attached to a noisy  little nickel clock gradually unwound the entire  length of its spring. It was difficult to talk away composedly, but Bess managed to do it;  and while her guests were inwardly shaking  over the too palpable hint, she was longing  to give the boys an outward shaking for their  annoying pranks.