t Claire
should let any such thing come into her life without some hint to her
dearest friends.

After repeated coughing Aunt Milly wakened with a start and tried to
look as though she had not been asleep. Nancy told her of the party
they wanted to have at Happy House. She had a way of telling it that
made it seem very simple and easy. After one frightened gasp, Aunt
Milly promised to help win Aunt Sabrina's and B'lindy's approval.

Nothing, perhaps, so marked the amazing changes in Happy House worked
by Nancy's stay than the eagerness with which B'lindy, and even Miss
Sabrina, accepted the suggestion of the "party."

They sat with Nancy and Aunt Milly on the hollyhock porch after supper
excitedly making plans; at least B'lindy and Aunt Milly were excited;
Aunt Sabrina had moments of alarm--it had been so very long since they
had entertained anyone!

"Do let me plan the whole thing," begged Nancy. "I'm good at such
things. I always had charge of all the class stunts. Ever since I've
been here I've pictured how wonderfully this old house would open up
for entertaining. We'll have flowers in all the rooms--heaps and heaps
of them. But let's serve out under the trees!"

B'lindy and Miss Sabrina were horrified at such an idea. When guests
had come before to Happy House they had eaten in dignified manner from
the dining-room table.

"But your garden is so lovely," Nancy cried. She made a vivid picture
of how it would look on the day of the party. Her enthusiasm won her
point; even Aunt Sabrina's doubt had to yield before her youthful
determination.

So it was agreed that ice-cream and cake--like the Governor had
had--should be passed from tables set under the old trees, and in the
dining-room there would be punch in the old punch bowl that had, in
years gone by, honored many a distinguished gathering under the old
roof. And Nancy should have her "heaps" of flowers everywhere.

"Maybe we'd better keep the sitting-room closed," suggested Miss
Sabrina, faintly. She was too proud to tell them that she could not
bear the thought of curious eyes staring at the mantel with its ragged
crack, everlasting reminder of the storm that marked the falling of the
shadow over Happy House.

But Nancy would not listen even to this--flowers everywhere and doors
and windows open, everywhere.

When Nancy had declared that everyone in Freedom must be invited--even
the Hopworths and Peter Hyde, Miss Sabrina had made her la