as due to Monty's
forethought. Katharine had never heard of a "corkis;" but, by way of
dabbling in politics through loiterings at the village store, the boy
had acquired some technical terms, and insisted that this was what best
befitted their case. As he could not spell the word, and she couldn't
find it in the dictionary, though she searched all the "Cor" columns
through, she adopted phonetic spelling with the above result. Also,
since there was as much variety in "time" as there was in clocks, the
guests were advised to regulate their arrivals by the biggest one
visible. As to the teaspoon clause--that was positively necessary. "How
could a boy eat ice-cream without a spoon? And how could anybody, even
Aunt Eunice, who had a trunk full of silver, lend a body spoons enough
to go around, admitting that one dared ask for them? For if everybody
came who was asked, and everybody certainly would since they hadn't been
polite enough to send regrets (even before the cards were out), what
would a body do, I should like to know?"

As there was altogether too much body in this argument for Montgomery he
yielded the point and waited the great event with what patience he
might. Not so much patience was required, however, since there was much
labor to accomplish. William hitched up the team, thoughtfully taking an
opportunity when Miss Maitland had gone to pay a visit to the distant
Mansion, and brought the field full of Jack-o'-lanterns up to the barn;
into which, carefully keeping the sound sides of the pumpkins toward the
kitchen windows and Susanna's eyes, he conveyed them. Then the doors
were closed and the decorating began.

"C-c-can't make 'em hang," lamented Montgomery, after a few moments'
unsuccessful effort.

"Course not. That string's too light. Wait. I'll fetch something," said
Katharine, as decorator in charge. Then she sped into the house and
borrowed Susanna's clothes-line.

"My clothes-line, child? What on earth for?"

"Oh, you'll see sometime. I sha'n't hurt it!" returned the eager girl,
skipping away.

The widow was glad to have "the children" out of the way for the time
being. She, also, was planning a "surprise," for Eunice had told her of
Katharine's "little Hallowe'en party," and the good housekeeper
determined that not a single young guest should return home after that
event without carrying a report of a fine repast.

As she said to Moses, when fixing him up for the day:

"It does seem good after