forgotten the
surprise party.

"Don't want nuthing!" protested Frieda, rudely. And, seizing her bag,
she followed Mrs. Johnson up the stairs.

As soon as she was out of sight, the girls began to move cautiously from
their hiding places. But suddenly they all stood perfectly still,
arrested by the unbelievable words they now heard, which Frieda
literally shouted at kind Mrs. Johnson.

"You ain't a-going to put me in the attic!" Her bag fell to the floor
with a bang. "I didn't come here to be no servant girl! I knew there was
a trick to it!"

"But, my dear----" Mrs. Johnson's soft voice pleaded in words that were
not distinguishable to the girls below.

By this time the Scouts were gathered about the piano. Frances sank on
the sofa and buried her face in her hands, and Miss Phillips sighed
deeply. Marjorie looked frightened, as if something dreadful were about
to happen. Ruth alone was unaffected; she had been right from the first!

"Oh, Ruth!" cried Frances, forgetting all about the surprise party. "If
we only had taken your advice!" Her voice died in a wail.

"Sh!" cautioned Marjorie. "Oh, girls, don't let's give up! Please! Let's
try our song. Maybe that--and the ice-cream----"

But to her dismay, she received no word of encouragement from Miss
Phillips. Their Captain seemed to have reached the lowest depths of
despair.

Ethel, however, struck the chord, and the girls chimed in weakly. Then,
the music, strengthening their hopes as it progressed, made them more
cheerful. Loudly, they brought out the words of the chorus:

"Frieda dear, Frieda dear, we're so glad you're here!
Frieda dear, Frieda dear, your Scout friends are near----"

and they fairly shouted the name in hope of evoking some response.

But none came; in five minutes Mrs. Johnson reappeared with wet eyes.
She felt so sorry for the Scouts.

"It's no use, girls," she said, sadly; "she wouldn't come down. And when
I stepped out into the hall to show her the big closet for her wraps,
she locked the door in my face!"

Marjorie burst into tears and hid her face on her room-mate's shoulder.
She felt as if she had never been more disappointed, even when she
failed to make the Scout troop.

"Don't cry, dear," said Mrs. Johnson, "she'll come around in time. Now
let's have the party, anyway. Suppose you change it, and have it in
honor of me instead! Day after to-morrow is my birthday!"

Marjorie looked up, smiling through her tears; and th