In spite of Neale's "puny" appetite, they had a great chestnut roast
that evening. Eva Larry and Myra Stetson came in unexpectedly, and the
Corner House girls had a very hilarious time. Neale was the only boy
present; but he was rather used, by this time, to playing squire to "a
whole raft of girls."

"And, oh, girls," cried the news-bearer, Eva, "what do you think? The
School Board has voted to let us give _The Carnation Countess_. I heard
it to-day. It's straight. The parts will be given out this next week.
And, oh! poor us!"

"Miss Lederer said we would have quite important parts in the play,"
Ruth said complacently.

"And _we_ can only look on," wailed Myra Stetson, quite as lugubriously
as Eva.

"And I'm going to be a bee--I'm going to be a bee!" Dot danced around
the table singing this refrain.

"I hope you won't be such a noisy one," Tess said admonishingly. "You're
worse than a bumblebee, Dot Kenway."

Agnes really felt too bad to say anything for a minute or two. It was
true she felt better in her heart since she had confessed to Mr. Bob
Buckham; but the fact that she could not act in the musical play was as
keen a disappointment as lively, ambitious Agnes Kenway had ever
suffered.

For once Eva Larry's news was exact. It was announced to all grades of
the Milton Public Schools on Monday morning that _The Carnation
Countess_ was to be produced at the Opera House, probably during the
week preceding Christmas, and all classes were to have an opportunity
of helping in the benefit performance.

A certain company of professional players, headed by a capable manager
and musical director, were to take charge of the production, train the
children when assembled, and arrange the stage setting. Half the
proceeds of the entertainment were to go to the Milton Women's and
Children's Hospital--an institution in which everybody seemed now to be
interested.

The fact that a certain little girl named Tess Kenway, had really set
the ball of interest in motion, was quite forgotten, save by a few. As
for the next to the youngest Corner House girl, she never troubled her
sweet-tempered little self about it. "Oh! I'm so glad!" she sighed, with
satisfaction. "Now my Mrs. Eland can stay."

"What's that you say, Theresa?" Miss Pepperill's sharp voice demanded.

Tess repeated her expression of gratitude.

"Humph!" ejaculated the red-haired teacher. "So you are still interested
in Mrs. Eland, are you? Have you seen her ag