Dexie turned and motioned imperiously for her to leave the room, then shut the door with a slam that shook the house.  Gussie hurried to her father, saying: 

“Oh, papa! do go and see Dexie.  I believe she is going to have a fit, for she looks awful.”

“What’s that?” and Mr. Sherwood looked up from his paper.  “Did you say something the matter with Dexie?”

“Yes, do go and see what it is, for she turned me out of the room.”

“Have you been teasing her again about whistling?” he asked, looking at her sharply.  “I told you to let your sister alone.”

“Oh! it isn’t that, papa.  I have not offended her.  She has only just returned from the store, but there’s something the matter with her, for her very looks frightened me.”

Being thus admonished Mr. Sherwood was soon in Dexie’s room, and he was startled at the intense expression of his daughter’s face.

“My dear girl! what has happened to you?” he tenderly asked, as he took her hands and drew her to his side.  “Try and tell me.”  He stroked her ruffled hair, and spoke in soothing tones, but it was several minutes before she could utter a word.

“Dexie, my dear, calm yourself, and tell me what is the matter; you will make yourself ill.  What is it all about, my dear?”

Dexie pointed to the crumpled handbill that she had tossed under the table as she threw off her wraps, and her father stooped and picked it up, then smoothing it across his knee read the cause of offence.

“Why, you foolish girl! surely it is not this that has put you into such a passion?”

“I won’t have it!  How dared they!  The ‘American Warbler,’ indeed!  Do they think I will overlook such insolence and go to their old concert after that public insult!  No, I won’t put up with it, so there!” and a flood of tears brought relief to the overcharged heart.

“Dexie, they never intended to hurt your feelings; it is only a mistake on your part to think so for a moment.  Why, it is quite a joke, one that the audience will not be slow in appreciating, I’ll warrant.  Come, dry your eyes, and never mind this announcement.”

But Dexie flung herself on the bed, sobbing through her tears:  “Oh, papa, what made you make me say I would whistle when I did not want to from the first.  I did not think they would treat me so meanly, or I never would have consented.  But I won’t go near the old hall to-night; no, not a step!”

Her father sat down on the bed beside her, and pushed away the hair from her hot face, saying:  “You are quite mistaken, dear, in thinking they meant anything but praise in announcing your part of the programme.  If you will just think a moment, you will see it yourself.”

“Praise, indeed!  They have insulted me in a most public manner.  How dared they take such liberties with my name, when it was only as a special favor I consented to whistle at all!  Oh, it was such a mean, shabby trick!” and the tears fell in showers.