o one else shall hear it. Just see where
they are."

In a most secluded nook indeed, a very small cozy corner under the
stairway, could be seen the pair in question. Viola looked
particularly pretty in a light green muslin that brought out to
perfection the delicate tints of her rather pale face. Her dark hair
was turned up in a "bun," and it might be said, in passing, that no
other girl in the room had assumed such a young lady-like effect.
This, with her society manners, and Tom at her elbow, easily gave Viola
a star position at the lawn party.

Tavia was still gasping over her "surprise." The boys found it a
matter of ease to become at once a part of the party where Tavia was
concerned. They might have felt a trifle awkward before she came, this
being the social debut of most of them, but when Tavia, "got going," as
they expressed it, there was an end to all embarrassment.

Like a queen she sat on the low couch, her head thrown back in mock
scorn, while not less than a half dozen boys wielded palm leaf fans
about her, in true oriental fashion. Someone brought a hassock for her
feet, then another ran to the porch and promptly returned with a long
spray of honeysuckle that was pressed into a crown for her head; Alice
confiscated a Japanese parasol from the side wall for her "slave" to
shade her with and then--

The couch was the kind without a back support, cartridge cushions under
the rolled ends finishing the antique design. Against one of these
Tavia was resting, but no sooner had all her accessories been completed
than her suite fell into line, four "slaves" making hold of the couch,
lifting it majestically from its place, and with the air of Roman
history, "gents" solemnly marching off with the queen and her retinue
in full swing.

George Mason was chief waver--that is, he had the post of honor, next
the "chariot" with his fan.

"Ki-ah!" he called, "Tavy-wavy-Ki-yah!"

This was the signal for a solemn chant in which all of the twenty boys
present, including Ned and Nat, but not Tom Burbank, participated.

"Ki-ah!" called the leader.

"Ki-ah!" answered the retinue.

"Loddy-Shoddy, Wack-fi-Oddy Ki-ah!" sang out the head "Yamma," while
Queen Octavia smiled majestically at her subjects, and bore the honor
thrust upon her as gracefully as if born heir to an Indian throne.

The girls were bending and fanning and bowing, some even endeavoring to
kiss the queen's hand as she passed.

"It takes boys