him. He knows that I once worked for Bob Buckham and that he's a
friend of mine."

"Oh, Neale!" groaned Agnes. "That won't help me."

"Help you to what?"

"To get a chance to act in the play," sighed the girl. "I did take the
berries! So did the other girls. We deserve our punishment. Mr. Marks
won't change his mind."

But Neale was not altogether sure of that. There were things happening
just then which pointed to several changes in the character parts of
_The Carnation Countess_. It was being discovered by the director and
stage manager that many of the characters should be recast. Some of the
girls and boys to whom the parts had been allotted could not possibly
compass them.

This was particularly plain in the case of Innocent Delight and some
others of the female roles. Some of the very brightest girls in the high
school were debarred from taking part in the play because of Mr. Marks'
ruling against the first basket ball team and some of their friends.

Neale O'Neil determined to see Mr. Bob Buckham as soon as possible.
Another rehearsal would occur on this Saturday afternoon; so Friday
evening it was arranged that the interests of the Corner House girls
should be divided for one Saturday, at least.

Tess and Dot were going to the hospital in the forenoon. Uncle Rufus had
coaxed many fall flowers into late blooming this year and the little
girls were to carry great bunches of asters and garden-grown
chrysanthemums to decorate the children's ward for Thanksgiving, which
came the very next Thursday.

Ruth had shopping to do and must confer with Mr. Howbridge about a
Thanksgiving treat for the Meadow Street tenants. "A turkey for each
family--and perhaps vegetables," she declared. "So many of them are
foreigners. They have learned to celebrate our Fourth of July--why not
our Thanksgiving?"

Therefore, it was easy for Neale and Agnes to obtain permission to drive
out to Strawberry Farm. Neale got a horse and runabout from the
stableman for whom he occasionally drove, and Agnes was proud, indeed,
when she came out in her furs and pretty new hat, with the fur-topped
boots she had just purchased, and stepped into the carriage beside her
friend.

Tom Jonah looked longingly after them from the yard, but Agnes shook her
head. "Not to-day, old fellow," she told the good old dog. "We're going
to travel too fast for you," for the quick-stepping horse was anxious to
be on the road.

They departed amid the cheers o