ers, brothers and sisters are all most agreeable. You are to
come to me a week before Christmas and must settle yourselves exactly as
if you were my own children. I mean to punish any homesick girl severely
by giving her an overdose of chocolate drops. Families may be visited
once a day, if necessary, though I shall frown down upon too frequent
absences. But, young ladies, before we get any further, tell me what you
think of the plan?"

The girls were almost speechless with amazement and pleasure. To visit
Mrs. Gray's beautiful home and live in a whirl of parties and funmaking
such as would be sure to follow was more than any of them had ever
dreamed of.

"It's perfectly delightful, Mrs. Gray!" they cried almost in one breath.

"And we shall give the Christmas party together, my four daughters and
I, and we'll do exactly as we choose and invite whom we please."

"Oh, oh!" exclaimed the four young girls. "Won't it be fun?"

"It will for me," said the little old lady. "And I need to have a good
time. I am getting old before my time for lack of amusement. And now, my
lady-birds, who else shall we invite to the house party?"

"Who else?" said Grace, somewhat crestfallen; for four intimate girl
chums are invariably jealous of admitting other girls to the charmed
circle.

"Do you mean what other girls, Mrs. Gray?" asked Jessica.

"No, no, child; I mean what other boys, of course. Do you think I want
any more than my four nice freshmen to amuse me? But I don't think this
party would be complete without four fine fellows to look after us. Who
are the four nicest boys you know?"

"David," exclaimed all four voices in unison.

Mrs. Gray laughed.

"There seems to be no difference of opinion on that score," she replied;
"but is David the only boy in Oakdale?"

"He's the nicest one," said Anne, who could never forget how kind David
had been to her when his sister was her bitter enemy.

"Reddy Brooks is nice, too," said Nora. "He threw apples at some tramps
once, and saved us from being robbed."

"Very good," said Mrs. Gray. "Reddy Brooks shall certainly be invited to
the house party. I admire courage above all things."

"Then there's 'Hippopotamus' Wingate," said Jessica.

"Who?" demanded Mrs. Gray.

"His name is really 'Theophilus', but the boys have always called him
'Hippopotamus,' and now the name sticks to him and everybody forgets he
has any other."

"Are you agreed on Hippopotamus, my adopted daughters?"