without due consideration—I often do. But I hope you'll forgive me for I sincerely beg all your pardons."
"It's all right," said Bettie, "as long as it was just a mistake. It's easy to forgive mistakes."
"Yes," said Marjory, sagely, "we all make 'em."
"It's all right, anyway," added Jean.
Mr. Downing looked expectantly at Mabel, who for once had preserved a dead silence.
"Well?" he asked, interrogatively.
"I don't suppose I can ever really quite forgive you," confessed Mabel, with evident reluctance. "It'll be awfully hard work, but I guess I can try."
"Perhaps my peace-offering will help your efforts a little," said Mr. Downing, smiling. "It seems to be coming in now at your gate."
The girls turned hastily to look, but all they could see was a very untidy man with a large book under his arm.
