e to bring you a letter," she announced, handing Carl a folded
paper, and shyly surveying the rest of the company from behind him.

He read it aloud.

To the G.N.C.:

We should like to come to your meeting this evening, if you will
let us. We have a splendid plan to tell you. Dora thought of it.
Send reply by bearer.

Yours truly,

$1$2.

"Shall we let them come?" he asked.

"Of course," said Jim, and as nobody was actively opposed, Carl
scribbled, "Come on," on the back of their elegant note.

Within five minutes the girls were established in their midst, quite
as if they belonged there.

When the screens were duly admired and their offers of help politely
declined, Bess explained the object of their visit.

"We think it would be nice, now that we haven't secrets any more, and
because you helped us with the harp man's benefit, for our clubs to be
friends and meet together sometimes. Dora has thought of a beautiful
plan. Won't you tell about it yourself, Dora?"

"It is nothing very great," she began modestly. "You know in the days
of chivalry how all the knights belonged always to some order,--like
the Knights Templars in 'Ivanhoe,'--and perhaps there are some now; I
don't know."

"There is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows," suggested Will, and
Carl added, "Joanna's young man belongs to the Ancient Order of
something."

"Then I don't see why we shouldn't have one," Dora went on, laughing.
"My idea was to unite our two clubs in an order, and call it the Order
of the Big Front Door. We both have the same motto and are trying to
help, so it would not be anything really new, except that we could
have a badge to remind us, and have meetings together sometimes. The
story of the Magic Door put it into my head."

"Good for you, Dora! I'm for it!" cried Ikey.

The funny name took the boys' fancy, and the plan of having joint
meetings was not altogether objectionable. The story of the Magic Door
had to be explained to some of them, and while Bess was doing this
Aunt Zelie came in. She was surprised and delighted to see the
visitors, and when the new project was told again for her benefit, she
thought it a very good one.

"I was trying myself to think of some way of keeping our motto in
mind, and now you must let me furnish the badges. The name, Order of
the Big Front Door, has given me an idea about them."

"What, Aunt Zelie?" asked Louise. "I am