the future.

Luncheon over, the Sempers had wandered in and out of one another's
rooms, exchanging confidences and reminiscences, while a wholesale
unpacking of their effects went on. Later Elfreda had marshalled them to
the lawn, where their tongues continued to wag busily as they strung the
many-colored lanterns on every available bush, or between such trees as
could be easily put into use.

"We'd better be thinking about getting dressed for the evening,"
reminded Miriam Nesbit, consulting her wrist watch. "It is after six
o'clock."

"I hope it gets dark early," commented Elfreda, with a reflective squint
at the sky. "It will be more fun to have dinner then. Still I don't care
to let the august Sempers starve while we are waiting for night to
come."

"Oh, have dinner late," chorused several voices. "It will be ever so
much more fun."

"I think so, too," nodded Grace. "We'll be good and hungry then and
enjoy it even better for the waiting."

"You hear the counsel of honorable Semper Harlowe," stated Elfreda
automatically. "Those in favor please respond in the usual manner by
saying 'aye.' Contrary 'no.' I am delighted to find you of one mind,"
she added, with a beaming smile, as no dissenting voice arose. "You
shall be amply rewarded for such noble self-sacrifice."

"Elfreda has something special on her mind," remarked Miriam Nesbit to
Anne, as they strolled toward the house to don evening gowns. "She's
planning some sort of ridiculous surprise. I can see it in her eye. I
wonder--" Miriam stopped short and laughed.

"What?" asked Anne quickly. "I hadn't noticed anything specially
mysterious in her manner. She always did love to be mystifying."

"I won't say what I think is going to happen. If it happens, though,
I'll tell you if I guessed right." Miriam continued to smile to herself.
Encountering Elfreda on the veranda, her black eyes flashed the stout
girl a mischievous message which the latter immediately caught.

"I can see that you know a few things," challenged Elfreda, drawing her
aside. "On your honor as my benefactor and roommate, keep them to
yourself," she charged, just above a whisper.

"I am a safe receptacle for dark secrets," Miriam laughingly assured her
in equally guarded fashion.

"I'm afraid I made a serious mistake in rooming with you so long. You
know altogether too much about me," retorted Elfreda waggishly. "I might
have known you'd guess. Never mind. Some others won't."

Owing t