's the worst of having a father who plays with you," said Joy. "I
never expect _my_ mother and father to care about my good times."

"I just can't make it a real success without Dad," exclaimed Bet
tearfully.

"You can, if you try, Bet Baxter. So brace up and stop your sniffling!"

"I wasn't sniffling, Joy Evans," exploded Bet.

"What do you call it, then?" laughed Joy.

"Just a few regretful tears."

Even Shirley, the serious one laughed heartily at Bet. And in a few
minutes they were busy with their plans.

"Say Bet, what possessed you to ask Edith Whalen? I've tried to be
glad but it isn't in me to be," said Joy.

"I'm not glad, myself, but what's the use of being a Merriweather Girl
unless you live up to the heroine of the Manor? Lady Betty would have
asked her, I'm sure," replied Bet.

"Then she must have been an angel!" exclaimed Kit, who had so much joy
taken out of her school life by the unpleasant remarks of Edith and her
friend Vivian Long, that she did not welcome the thought of meeting her
at the party.

"Lady Betty was an angel!" cried Bet, tossing a kiss to the smiling
face above her.

"Then why did we take her as an ideal? Who can live up to an angel? I
can't," said Kit sadly.

"None of us can, but Dad says it's a good thing to have a star to aim
at. Course it's away above our heads but we can aim, just the same.
She's _our_ star. Each of us can have our own pet ones. I have my
lovely mother, who is another angel. She's for myself, but Lady Betty
is a company affair."

"Did you think all that out, Bet?" asked Shirley.

"Dad helped me. It troubled me to have Lady Betty for our club ideal!
It seemed like putting her before my mother, then Dad explained that I
could hardly share mother! And that makes it all right."

"I think Lady Betty is pleased, don't you. She smiles so sweetly,"
whispered Kit.

"She always smiled sweetly, even when she was having terrible troubles.
_She_ didn't cry just over a disappointment. She was brave!" Bet
straightened up and brushed a tear away.

"We'll have to be like her," laughed Kit as she added: "And believe me,
it takes bravery to meet Edith."

"Therefore Kit Patten, I'm going to give you full charge of Edith
tonight. See that she has a good time," commanded Bet.

"Hold on there, Bet Baxter. I'm a bucking bronco and you can't trust
me to drive in harness. I'll disgrace you! Like as not when Edith
puts on that superior air, I'll ta