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Roger turned up the brick path that led to the door

"Hello, boys!" Elsa called, as the front door slammed "You're late!"

Elschen at twenty-nine was still very pretty in an unobtrusive way Her yellow hair was thick and curly Her eyes were like Ernest's and her skin was fair, with a velvety flush in her delicately rounded cheeks

"Supper's ready," she went on "Papa just caer and Ernest went quickly into the dining roo down He nodded to them over his spectacles, then helped himself to a slice ofthe bread to Roger

"Here, liebchen!" Ma coffee pot She set it down, then hurried round the table to kiss first Ernest, then Roger

"You know Rog can't eat without you, Mütterchen," laughed Ernest

"He doesn't get his otten the only hoer He and Malance

"Pass the biscuits, Elsa," said Papa Wolf

"Going anywhere to-night, Elsa?" asked Ernest

"Yes, we have choir practice every night from now to Christmas"

"The carols are beautiful!" exclaiht when I stopped by the church for Elsa Ernest, pass your papa the preserves and put the cake where he can reach it It's fresh, Papa, never fear I only finished frosting it as you came in" Mamma Wolf looked at her husband a little anxiously

"That Sain this afternoon, Ernest," said Elsa "He wanted to call this evening and I told hier "He's been hanging round for a long time"

"Pass the biscuits, Ernest," from Papa Wolf "The cake is very bad, Mamma"

"Oh, Papa, is it? And I took such trouble!" The distress in the gentle voice er scowl

"In A, "where you have lived for some forty years, it is not considered courteous to criticize the food at the table"

"Hush, Elschen! Papa can say what he wishes, always, to me Is it not so, Karl?"

Papa Wolf pushed away his plate, wiped his h of repletion

"You spoil us all, Maht and ill have a little ive up choir practice, just for once"

Ernest glanced at his sister apprehensively She flushed resentfully "But I o, Papa!" she cried "I take the salary the church payswell"