ed," concluded Minnie, "and I hereby beg to propose as our
first course, a course of Popular Entertainments."

Mabel stared at her in amazement.

"Why, Minnie, are you crazy!" she exclaimed when she recovered her
breath.

"Well, no, not quite yet I hope," replied Minnie, enjoying the sensation
she had created, "But I suppose that was rather a big way to put it, I
don't wonder it took away your breath. The style of entertainment I have
in my head is a very small, innocent kind of affair, as you will
perceive when I tell you that they are to be carried out by ourselves,
and, moreover, that they are not to consist of anything more formidable
(for the present at anyrate) than the preparation of tea or coffee, and
the adjuncts pertaining thereunto."

"But how is it to be done?" asked Mabel, scarcely less mystified than
before, "It can't be done without money, and a good deal of money too."

"That's just what bothered me at first," Minnie replied, "Of course, I
knew I could get the money from papa if I asked him for it, and could
assure him it was for a good purpose, but I wasn't going to do that,
because, in the first place, I wished to keep the thing a secret between
ourselves till we see how it will work, and in the next place I didn't
want to take the money from papa at all; so I thought out a plan, but to
carry it out we _must_ take papa into our secret."

"Perhaps it would be as well to do that in any case," remarked Mabel,
"seeing it happens to be his work-people with whom we have to do, and I
daresay it is only fair and just that he should know about it. However,
let me hear the plan."

"You remember I told you I was laying past money for a sealskin jacket.
Papa thought I was too young to have one last year, but he promised me
that if I had a certain sum by my next birthday he would give me the
rest. I have saved a good deal, for I have done without some things--a
good many things--and given the money they would have cost to papa to
keep for me because I was always afraid I might use it for something
else. I should have, I think, about seven or eight pounds by this time,
which will, I am sure, with part of our pocket-money, and clever
management go a good way to start us fairly on our expedition, don't you
think so?"

"Why, yes, that is quite a fortune; but are you sure you won't be sorry
for it when your birthday comes and you can't have the jacket you've
wished for so long?"

"O, I suppose I _shall_ be so