guests? I will promise to leave
soon after supper, and not to appear until supper. How will that do?"

"Oh, it would be just, heavenly! It will give such distinction. I know
the girls will love it."

"I think I can make myself pleasant to you all," said Mrs. Ward, "and
I should like to be there."

"But as to paying anything, Mrs. Ward, you will come as our guest, and
you know we have most of us plenty of money. Please, please, let us do
the entertaining."

"Very well, dear, I will not press that point. I hope I have made you
happy, Kathleen."

"Oh! you have--very, very happy indeed. And Saturday week is to be the
day?"

"Yes, Kathleen."

Kathleen bent down, took one of Mrs. Ward's hands, and kissed it. Then
she skipped out of the room and flew back to her companions. They were
waiting for her in a state of suppressed eagerness.

"Well, Kathleen--Kitty--Kit, what's the news?" asked Maggie.

Room was made for Kathleen in the center of the group.

"We have won! We may do it!" she said, speaking in a low tone. "Oh,
she's--she's like no one else! I don't know how you will take it,
girls; but if you're not just delighted you ought, to be. Why, what
_do_ you think? She wants to come herself."

"Mrs. Ward!" said Maggie in amazement.

"Yes, just to supper. She says she will come--she wishes to come--that
we're to invite her; in fact, she makes it a _sine qua non_. She will
go away again after supper, and we're to have the whole glorious day,
next Saturday week, from two in the afternoon until bedtime. Oh,
sha'n't we have fun!"

"Yes, of course," said Maggie. "It's much better even than I thought.
I will write the letters of invitation immediately."

"But why should you write a whole lot of letters?" said Kathleen. "You
are one queen. Write to the other queen and mention that Mrs. Ward is
coming."

There was nothing like the present time for making arrangements; and
Maggie wrote on a sheet of headed note-paper provided for her by her
satellites the following words:

"Queen Maggie presents her compliments to Queen Aneta, and begs
for the pleasure of her company with all her subjects on
Saturday the 15th of October, to an entertainment from three to
nine o'clock. She hopes that the whole school will be present,
and writes in the names of her own subjects as well as of
herself.

"_P.S._--Mrs. Ward has most kindly promised to attend."

This letter was subjected to the approval of the group of gi