ward, as
if stumbling on something, and the next moment she held up her hand and
seemed to be regarding some article upon it with an exaggeratedly
doleful expression that was such an exact imitation of the renowned
wizard's that Miss Blake recognized it at once, and laughed as heartily
as Joe Tracy himself. By this time the girls were thoroughly
interested, and kept their eyes fixed on Nan so that they might not
lose one gesture nor the slightest change of expression.

"O dear! Those Buckstone girls! Why do they get in my way," lamented
Louie Hawes, "I wish they wouldn't crowd round her so. First thing
they know she'll notice them, and stop short off and won't tell any
more."

"Hush, Lu! There go John Gardiner and Harley Morris!"

But Nan was in full swing now, and too absorbed in her story to be
aware of the little court that had gathered around her. Joe Tracy's
eyes followed her every movement with greedy interest, and when she at
length imitated the flapping wings of the clucking hen he simply
shouted with laughter and clapped his hands vigorously, quite lost to
all but his appreciation and sense of the fun of the thing.

It seemed to remind him of something similar in his own experience, for
he immediately started in on a description of his own, and Nan sat
listening in her turn with rapt attention. Every now and then a shout
of laughter would come from the group in the distant corner, and the
girls longed to go over and join in the fun.

"Listen to John Gardiner 'haw-haw!'" cried Mary Brewster.

"Don't the Buckstone twins give funny little giggles?" interposed Louie.

"Why can't we go over and listen too?" suggested Ruth.

So they all, even Grace Ellis and Mary Brewster, went softly toward the
alluring corner, and were just in time to catch the end of Joe Tracy's
story, which was so witty that John Gardiner swayed back and forward
with delight and shook the room with his hearty laugh, and the
Buckstone girls' giggle joined in like a shrill accompaniment.

It had all come about so naturally that Joe Tracy did not realize that
he had been orating to a roomful, and he did not seem to mind it at all
when he discovered that he and Nan had had an audience. His shyness
was quite gone and his face was radiant with enjoyment.

The piano and violins started in again, and Miss Blake was heard
inviting bulky Tom Porter to escort her down to supper.

Of course, Nan had known all along that there would be som