d
Patty, Becky and Amy, and the two boys, Jack and Tom, assembled round the
seat where Pauline had placed herself.

"It is your turn, Paulie," said Nancy. "You are queen of to-night, for it
is the night following your birthday. Come, queen, take your throne."

"I am sick of thrones," answered Pauline.

But Nancy took her hand.

"Whatever you feel, you must not show it," she said, "for that will spoil
everything. Here is your throne; step up."

Pauline looked round her. Up to the present moment a curtain had been
drawn across one end of the tent. It was now removed, and the little girl
saw a deep chair covered completely with flowers and moss and ferns. A
bright light was hanging just at the back of this throne. Now Pauline, as
queen of the day, was led up to it, and requested to take her seat
thereon. She did so, feeling queer and giddy. When she was seated the
young people stood in groups at her right hand and at her left.

The farmer now appeared, carrying a table. All the guests stood in the
background and looked on. The table was placed in front of Pauline. At
the same instant Nancy bent forward and laid her hand across the little
girl's eyes.

"Don't look just for a minute," she said.

Pauline heard the ecstatic whispers of her own little sisters, and for
the first time a feeling of wonder and pleasure stole over her. She
forgot all that had gone before, and for the time was both happy and
excited.

"Now you may look," said Nancy.

As Pauline opened her eyes she felt something cool and soft descending on
her head.

"Don't touch it," whispered Nancy; "it's your crown. But come, girls and
boys, we must do more than this to make our queen beautiful."

As she spoke all the young people divided into two groups, crossed the
floor, and came past Pauline as she sat on her throne; and each one, as
she or he passed, threw a wreath of flowers either over the head of the
little girl, or round her neck, or into her lap, until finally she found
herself absolutely embedded in flowers.

"Look at yourself," said Nancy, suddenly slipping a looking-glass in
front of the birthday queen. "Tell us what you see."

Pauline looked. The lights were so managed that she could see everything
distinctly. The lights fell full upon her. She saw a pair of dark eyes,
sweet, anxious, and beautiful; she saw a radiant and rosy face. Lilies of
the valley, sweet-peas, and summer roses fell about her soft dark hair.
Similar flowers fell