ed
her, and of course I wouldn't ask her at all. Mrs. Andrews up the
street asked me to Ruth's party last winter, but I heard their girl
tell Delia that she did it because she had known my mother and felt
obliged to, so I wouldn't go. I couldn't after that, you know. I did
go to the Buckstone twins' party, but all the other girls got off in
corners and laughed and talked, and I was left out and had to shift for
myself. So I went and talked to John Gardiner and Harley Morris and
those, and of course we got on first-rate--we always do, for if I can't
dance I can skate, and the boys got me to promise I'd go with them the
next good ice, and we got talking about other things, and I never
thought anything about the girls any more until Mrs. Buckstone came up
and said, 'I'm sorry, my dear, to break up this pleasant group, but we
can't permit you to monopolize our young gentlemen. The rest of the
young ladies are waiting for partners.' Then I knew I had got myself
into a scrape, for Mrs. Buckstone was dreadfully icy and the girls were
furious. So you see no one would come."

Miss Blake caught up a stray lock of hair at the girl's temple and
tucked it back into place, smoothed the ribbon upon her "best dress"
collar, and said tenderly:

"Well, that will all be made right to-night, I guess. Come, take my
hand, and let's fly down stairs, and be ready to receive, for you've
got your wish--there's the bell!--and your party is coming in."

They met the first comers on the stairs, and had to hurry past them to
avoid getting caught by a second installment. After that the guests
came quick and fast, and Nan had all she could do to welcome them and
wonder dimly in between how things were to be started, so that
everybody should have a good time.

But, bless you! She might have saved herself the trouble, for Miss
Blake simply set things going without any bother at all, and before Nan
realized what was happening, she saw the governess and big John
Gardiner leading in a lively game, while the music of a piano and some
violins, which were hidden away out of sight, fell upon her delighted
ear. She followed the sound, and it took her to the glass extension,
which, to her astonishment, was all alight, and fragrant with flowering
plants and towering palms. The "old trunks and things" that had
littered the place were gone, and in their stead was all this soft
greenness and bloom, while from above hung graceful lanterns, sending
ou