s.

"Well, one is, that we have a play," began Jasper.

"Oh--oh!"

Old Mr. King, over his evening paper off in the library, laid it down,
and smiled at the merry din that reached him even at such a distance.

"And another," cried the president, doing his best to make himself
heard.

"Oh, we don't want another," cried Clare, in which the united clubs
joined.

"Don't you want to hear any other plans?" shouted the president.

"No, no--the play! Put it to vote, do, Jasper--I mean, Mr. President,"
cried Alexia.

So the vote was taken, and everybody said, "Aye," and as there wasn't a
single "No," why the "ayes" had it of course. And after that they talked
so long over the general plan, that old Mr. King at last had to send a
very special invitation to come out to the dining-room. And there was
Mother Fisher and Mrs. Whitney and the little doctor and a most splendid
collation! And then off to the big drawing-room to top off with a dance,
with one or two musicians tucked up by the grand piano, and Grandpapa
smiling in great satisfaction upon them all.

XII SOME EVERY-DAY FUN

"It can't rain," cried Polly Pepper, "and it isn't going to. Don't think
it, girls."

"But it looks just like it," said Alexia obstinately, and wrinkling up
her brows; "see those awful, horrid clouds, girls." She pointed
tragically up to the sky.

"Don't look at them," advised Polly. "Come on, girls. I challenge you to
a race as far as the wicket gate."

Away she dashed, with a bevy at her heels. Alexia, not to be left behind
staring at the sky, went racing after.

"Wait," she screamed. The racers, however, spent no time attending to
laggards, but ran on.

Polly dashed ahead, and touched the green wicket gate. "Oh, Polly got
there first!" Almost immediately came another girl's fingers on it.

"No--I don't think so," panted Polly. "Philena got there just about as
soon."

"No, you were first," said the girl who plunged up next; "I saw it
distinctly."

"Well, it was so near that we ought to have another race to decide it,"
declared Polly, with a little laugh, pushing back the damp rings of hair
from her forehead. "Girls, isn't it lovely that we have this splendid
place where we can run, and nobody see us?"

"Yes," said Alexia, throwing herself down on the grass; which example
was immediately followed by all the other girls. "I just love this
avenue down to the wicket gate, Polly Pepper."

"So do I," chimed in the others.