me."

"Have you asked her?"

"No, but I just know she won't. So let's don't ask her, and you come
over there."

"You're a funny little thing, Genie! You know a lot, don't you?"

"'Course I do. Come on, Dolly," and the child pulled at Doily's sleeve.

"All right, I will," and the two went together over to the Rose house.

Dotty in her room, heard Dolly's voice below stairs and came running
down. Her anger was all past, and she was more than ready to be friends
again.

"Let's go out and see the tent," said Dolly, as the two met in the hall.

"All right, let's," and out they went.

"Did you fix it up, Genie?" said her mother, who had pretty much known
what was going on.

"Yes'm, I fixed it up," and Genie ran after the black puppy, who with
judicial foresight was running away from her.

"Tell me about the people who are coming, Dolly," said Dotty. "Who are
the nicest ones?"

"You may not like the same ones I do; but Clara Ferris is my most
intimate friend of the lot."

"As intimate as I am?"

"Well, of course, I've known her so much longer, you see, she seems more
intimate."

"But we're sort of twins, you know."

"Only sort of; we're not really. Well, anyway, there's Celia and then
there's Maisie May."

"Maisie May! What a funny name!"

"Well, it's her name all the same. And the two Rawlins girls, Grace and
Ethel."

"Are they nice?"

"Lovely. They live on the next block below us. Their brother is coming,
too. Clayton, his name is."

"What other boys?"

"Oh, Reggie Stuart and Lollie Henry--"

"Lollie! What a ridiculous name for a boy!"

"His real name is Lorillard. He's an awfully nice boy. He plays the
cornet in school sometimes for us to march by. Then there's Joe Collins.
He's the funniest thing! Makes you laugh all the time. And a lot of
others; I can't tell you about all of them."

"Never mind; I'll catch onto them as they come. Do you think they'll
like me, Dolly?"

"Of course they will; why wouldn't they?"

"I don't know; but with such a lot of them, I feel kind of shy."

"Pooh; Dot Rose, you couldn't be shy if you tried!"

"It isn't shy, exactly; but I'm afraid they won't think I'm nice."

"Oh, yes, they will; don't be silly. Anyway, some of them will. And
maybe you won't like all of them. Everybody can't like everybody,--you
know."

"No, I s'pose not. What do we do? Stand up to receive them?"

"Of course! Did you think we sat down? Haven't you ever had a party?"

"Not su