kes!" gasped Peace, proudly. "Faith said Mrs. Waddler would be nasty
if we didn't take something to eat this time, so I spent the tramp's
half dollar for some of those marshmallow cakes with nuts on top. They
are dandy good, and they cost a lot, but they weigh light, so you get a
big bag full for fifty cents. Not many people have money enough to buy
them very often, and Mrs. Waddler can't say a word about our bringing
them instead of a cake. Have one, Gail and Allee, 'cause you aren't
going to the reception. And take one up to mother. Maybe she'd like
them, too."

"But, Peace," Faith began, sharply, then stopped at a warning glance
from Gail, and with sudden gentleness she took the bulky sack from the
small sister's arms and started off for the church where the reception
was to be held.

They were somewhat late in arriving, and the little building was already
well filled with a laughing, light-hearted crowd, gathered to welcome
the new minister into their midst. Glancing hastily about her, Faith saw
one empty chair in a dim corner, and pointing it out to Peace, she said,
"Sit down over there, and remember not to talk except when you are
spoken to. Above everything else, don't get to romping. Hope and Cherry
are to help Miss Dunbar pass the cake, so they are needed in the
kitchen. Remember, now!"

"Yes, I will," was the unusually meek reply, and Peace obediently curled
herself up in the corner to watch proceedings, thankful to be one of the
gay company, but wistfully wishing that she might join in the
merrymaking. It wasn't so bad when the program hour came, for everyone
sat down then and listened quietly to the music and speeches, but it was
very lonely in the dim recess, where Peace was almost hidden from sight,
and she longed to have someone to talk to. Everyone was so busy
introducing themselves to the young minister and his pretty, sprightly
little wife, or gossiping among themselves, that no one paid any
attention to the somber, brown eyes peering so eagerly from the corner.

"Oh, dear," sighed Peace at length, "I might as well have stayed at home
like Faith said, for not a single soul has said a word to me since I
came in, and I don't s'pose I will even get a chance to speak to the new
minister. My, but he's got an awfully pretty wife! Wish she would smile
at me like that. There come the 'freshments. Like as not they'll skip
me, off here by myself. If Cherry forgets, I'll shake her good when I
get home. A piec