bands, black and yellow bands, glee-singers, Punch and Judy,"
Ida counted off one item after another on the ringers of her left hand.
"And now we seem to have come to the end of our resources. We can't
think of anything else. Do, like a darling, give us an idea!"

The darling deliberated once more, head on one side, lips pursed, eyes
on the ceiling, while the Percival family looked on, and exchanged
furtive glances of admiration. She _was_ pretty! prettier by far than
ordinary pretty people, by reason of some picturesque and piquant
quality more readily felt than denned. It didn't seem to matter one bit
that her nose turned up, and that her mouth was several sizes too large.
"If you described me on paper, I'd sound far nicer, but I look a wur-r-
rm beside her!" sighed Noreen mentally, just as Darsie lowered her eyes
to meet those of her hostess, and inquired gravely--

"How much may it cost?"

It was the question which accompanied every home plan, and on which hung
a momentous importance, but the Percivals appeared quite taken aback by
the suggestion. The girls stared, and their mother smilingly waved it
aside.

"Oh-h, I don't think we need trouble about that! It's only once a year,
and we must do the thing well. If you have a suggestion, dear, please
let us have it!"

"I was thinking," said Darsie hesitatingly, "of a treasure hunt!"

Instantly all four hearers acclaimed the idea with such unanimity and
fervour that the proposer thereof was quite overpowered by the thanks
lavished upon her.

"The _very_ thing! Why did we never think of it ourselves? Every one
will like it, and it will keep them moving about, which is always the
great problem to solve. Presents, presents, lots of presents, stowed
away in odd corners..."

"We'll each take a certain number and hide them in our _own_ pet corners
when no one else is in the garden. We'll make the parcels up in _green_
paper, so as to be less easy to find..."

"Every one must be told to bring them back to the lawn for a grand
public opening, so that the disappointed ones may join in the fun..."

"We may take part ourselves, mother? We _must_ take part! Get lots and
lots of presents, and let us hunt with the rest!"

"Certainly, dears, certainly. It is your party as much as mine; of
course you must hunt. I'll run up to town and buy the presents at the
stores. You must help me to think of suitable things. Bags, purses,
umbrellas, blotters, manicure-c