,isbell and ,emmy file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #gdgi-;h4htm or #gdgi-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#g_/ d_/g_/gdgi_/gdgi-;h_/#gdgi-;h4htm7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#g_/ d_/g_/gdgi_/gdgi-;h4zip7 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,glenmore by ,,amy ,,brooks ,with ,illustrations by the ,author ,illustration--,book ,cover ,illustration3 ,a ,,letter ,,from ,,vera6 ,,answered ,,dorothy4--,page #c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,popular ,stories4 ,,by ,,amy ,,brooks4 ,each illustrated by the ,author4 ,,the ,,randy ,,books4 #abmo4 ,cloth4 ,cover ,designs by the ,author4 ,net #a4jj each ,,randy',s ,,summer4 ,,randy',s ,,good ,,times4 ,,randy',s ,,winter4 ,,randy',s ,,luck4 ,,randy ,,and ,,her ,,friends4 ,,randy',s ,,loyalty4 ,,randy ,,and ,,prue4 ,,randy',s ,,prince4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for ,younger ,readers4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,series4 ,large #abmo4 ,cloth4 ,cover ,designs by the ,author4 ,set in large ,english type4 ,price1 net1 #a4jj each4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty4 ,,dorothy',s ,,playmates4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,school4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,the ,,shore4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,in ,,the ,,city4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,home4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,gay ,,times4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,in ,,the ,,country4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,winter4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,the ,,mountains4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,holidays4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,vacation4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,visit4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,crestville4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty',s ,,new ,,friends4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,glenmore4 ,,the ,,prue ,,books4 #abmo4 ,cloth4 ,cover ,designs by the ,author4 ,net #a4jj each4 ,,little ,,sister ,,prue4 ,,prue',s ,,merry ,,times4 ,,prue ,,at ,,school4 ,,prue',s ,,little ,,friends4 ,,prue',s ,,playmates4 ,,prue',s ,,jolly ,,winter4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,jolly ,,cat ,,tale4 ,large #abmo4 ,cloth4 ,profusely ,illustrated4 ,price ,net #a4jj 99 99 99 99 99 ,boston ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,dorothy ,dainty ,trade-,mark ,registered in ,u4,s4 ,patent ,office ,published1 ,august1 #aiag ,copyright1 #aiag1 by ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,all rights reserved ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,glenmore ,norwood ,press ,berwick ,smith ,co4 ,norwood1 ,mass4 ,u4,s4,a4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,i ,,off ,,to ,,glenmore #a ,,ii ,,the ,,first ,,social #ah ,,iii ,,mischief #dj ,,iv ,a ,,wonderful ,,tonic #fa ,v ,a ,,sleighing ,,party #hb ,,vi ,,the ,,lost ,,necklace #ii ,,vii ,,when ,,nancy ,,danced #abb ,,viii ,a ,,bit ,,of ,,spite #ach ,,ix ,,the ,,wishing-,,well #aeg ,x ,a ,,lively ,,week #aha ,,xi ,,an ,,innocent ,,sneak-,,thief #bjb ,,xii ,a ,,glad ,,return #bai ,,illustrations ,a letter from ,vera6 answered ,dorothy 7,page #c7 ,frontispiece ,,facing ,,page ,she wished that she might know what they were saying #cb ,oh1 what a fright6 she cried #gd ,this necklace is mine6 returned the accused girl excitedly #aab ,at the end of the wall ,betty and ,valerie waited #aej ,drawing closer1 ,nancy whispered a rare bit of news #ahf ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,glenmore ,,chapter ,i ,,off ,,to ,,glenmore ,the ,stone ,house looked as fine1 and its gardens as gay with flowers1 as when the members of the household were to be at home for a season1 for it always seemed at those times as if the blossoming plants did their best1 because sure of loving admiration4 ,but something entirely new was about to happen2 something that made ,dorothy ,dainty catch her breath1 while her dearest friend1 ,nancy ,ferris1 declared that she was wildly happy1 except that the whole thing seemed so like a dream that she could hardly believe it4 ,that's just it1 ,nancy1 said ,dorothy4 ,it surely does seem like a dream4 ,yet it was true1 and not a dream that ,mr4 ,dainty was to be away from home for some months1 that ,mrs4 ,dainty was to accompany him1 and that ,aunt ,charlotte would be with them1 and that ,dorothy and ,nancy were to spend those months at a fine school for girls1 and ,vera ,vane1 merry1 mischief-loving ,vera1 would be eagerly looking for them on the day of their arrival4 ,one would almost wonder that the thought of being away at school should appeal to ,dorothy and ,nancy1 but it was the novelty that charmed them4 ,it was always delightful at the ,stone ,house1 and there had been summer seasons at shore and country that they had greatly enjoyed1 but here was a new experience1 and the newness was delightful4 ,a letter from ,vera had just arrived1 and ,dorothy1 out in the garden when the postman had handed it to her1 stood reading it4 ,her letters are just like herself1 she whispered4 ,she looked up4 ,nancy was calling to her4 ,a letter from ,vera6 answered ,dorothy4 ,we shall have to hurry a bit1 ,nancy said1 ,james is strapping the two trunks1 the suit-cases are out in the hall1 and we must be ready in twenty minutes4 ,all right6 cried ,dorothy4 ,give me your hand and we'll run to the house4 ,she tucked the letter into the front of her blouse1 and then promptly forgot all about it4 ,the twenty minutes sped on wings1 and when at last ,dorothy and ,nancy sat side by side in the car1 their trunks checked1 their suit-cases1 and umbrellas on the seat that had been turned over for them1 they turned1 each to look into the other's eyes4 ,dorothy's lip quivered1 but she spoke bravely4 ,it is hard1 this first trip away from home without mother or ,aunt ,charlotte with us1 she said4 ,then quickly she added3 ,but it will be fine when we get used to being away from home4 ,oh1 yes1 it will be fine6 ,nancy said in a firm voice1 but she looked down1 lest her eyes show a suspicious moisture4 ,as the journey progressed1 their spirits rose4 ,after all1 it was not really good-by1 yet4 ,mrs4 ,dainty had postponed the actual good-by until a week after ,dorothy and ,nancy should have begun the school year at ,glenmore4 ,she knew that ,vera ,vane was a host in herself1 her friend and chum1 ,elfreda was nearly her equal in active wit1 and high spirits1 and at least a few of the other pupils would have already formed a speaking acquaintance with the two new girls4 ,the girls would have been assigned places in the classes for which they were fitted1 and thus the school work would be planned1 and their time closely occupied4 ,mrs4 ,dainty and ,aunt ,charlotte were also eager to know if the two who were so dear to them were comfortable1 satisfied with their surroundings1 and looking forward to a pleasant school year4 ,until thus assured1 they could not set out on the journey1 for the trip had been planned as a means of rest and recuperation for ,mrs4 ,dainty4 ,how could she rest1 or enjoy the trip unless she were sure that ,dorothy was absolutely content and happy8 ,if ,dorothy were happy1 ,nancy was sure to be1 because the two were inseparable1 and their tastes nearly identical4 ,the two girls were a bit tired of looking from the window at the flying scenery1 and ,nancy expressed the wish that they had brought something with them to read4 ,i did1 ,dorothy said1 with a laugh1 and she drew ,vera's letter from her blouse4 ,she read it aloud1 while ,nancy leaned against her shoulder1 enjoying it with her4 ,i wish you had come the first day that school opened1 but ,i'll be on the lookout for you and ,nancy4 ,my6 ,but we'll have fun and a plenty of it this year at ,glenmore1 she concluded1 signed her name1 and then added a postscript4 ,patricia1 and ,arabella are here1 both--no1 each--oh1 which should ,i say8 ,anyway1 they're acting just outrageous1 and already they've earned the name that the girls have given them4 ,they call them ',the ,freaks1' and truly the name fits4 ,they speak of ,patricia as 'the one with the queer clothes1' and of ,arabella as 'the medicine-chest4' ,she's taking more pills1 ,i do believe1 than she ever did at home1 and she wants folks to notice that4 ,the idea6 ,i'm glad there are two nice girls coming from ,merrivale1 although you'd never think ,patricia ever saw the place1 for she talks of nothing but ',n',york4' ,my brother ,bob always laughs about my long postscripts4 ,it's lucky he can't see this one6 ,lovingly1 ,,vera4 ,dorothy folded the letter1 again placing it in her blouse1 and then for a time they watched the passengers4 ,opposite them was a big woman1 who possessed three bird-cages1 two holding birds1 and the third imprisoning a kitten4 ,there was a lean man with a fat little girl beside him1 who ate countless lunches1 which were packed in a big basket1 that seemed a veritable horn of plenty4 ,yet a bit farther up the aisle was a small boy with a large cage that he watched closely4 ,a thick cloth covered it1 but once1 when the boy was not looking1 a long brown furry arm reached out1 and snatched mischievously at his sleeve4 ,it's a monkey1 whispered ,nancy1 and the boy turned and grinned4 ',f he knew there was a monkey in that cage he'd make me put it in the baggage car1 he said4 ,dorothy was tired with the long ride1 and just as she was thinking that she could not bear much more of it1 the brakeman shouted1 ,glenmore6 ,glenmore6 and the two girls were glad enough to get out upon the platform4 ,glenmore1 the village1 was a lovely little country place1 quiet1 and evidently content with itself4 ,glenmore1 the school1 was a rambling1 picturesque home for the pupils who came there4 ,once it had been a private mansion1 but its interior had been remodeled to meet the requirements of a small1 and select school for girls4 ,a bit old-fashioned in that it was more genuinely homelike than other private schools1 it held itself proudly aloof from neighboring buildings4 ,it claimed that its home atmosphere was the only old-fashioned thing about it1 and that was not an idle boast1 for the old house had been equipped with every modern convenience4 ,its instructors were the best that a generous salary could tempt to ,glenmore1 and ,mrs4 ,marvin1 owner1 promoter1 and manager of the school1 was an exceedingly clever woman for the position4 ,as assistant1 ,miss ,fenler1 small1 and wiry1 did all that was required of her1 and more4 ,she had never been appointed as a monitor1 but she chose to do considerable spying1 so that the pupils had come to speak of her as the detective4 ,one of her many duties was to see that the carryall was at the station when new pupils were to arrive4 ,accordingly when ,dorothy and ,nancy left the train1 and found themselves on the platform1 ,miss ,fenler was looking for them1 and she stowed them away in the carryall much as if they had been only ordinary baggage4 ,then1 seating herself beside the driver1 she ordered him to return4 ,home1 she said1 and home they were driven1 for home meant ,glenmore to the colored man1 who considered himself a prominent official of the school4 ,classes were in session when they reached ,glenmore1 so ,miss ,fenler went with them to the pretty room that was to be theirs1 a maid following with suit-cases1 the colored man bringing up the rear with one trunk1 and a promise to return on the next trip with the other4 ,a class-room door1 half open1 allowed a glimpse of the new arrivals4 ,see the procession with the ',fender' ahead1 whispered a saucy miss4 ,her name's ',fenler1' corrected her chum4 ,i know that1 but ,i choose to call her ',fender1' because she's like those they have on engines to scoop up any one who is on the tracks4 ,she's just been down to the station to 'scoop' two new pupils1 and ,i guess-- ,a tap of a ruler left the sentence unfinished4 ,arabella ,correyville1 without an idea as to what was whispered1 had seen the broad smile1 and had heard the giggle4 ,who was out there8 she wrote on a bit of paper1 and cautiously passed it to ,patricia ,levine4 ,i don't know4 ,i didn't see them1 but they must be swell4 ,they had ever so much luggage4 ,that was just like ,patricia4 ,she judged every one thus4 ,that a girl could be every inch a lady1 and at the same time1 possess a small1 well chosen wardrobe was past understanding2 but any girl1 however coarse in appearance and manner1 could1 with a display of many gaudy costumes1 convince ,patricia that she was a young person of great importance4 ,miss ,fenler talked with them for a few moments1 and then left them to unpack their belongings1 saying that later1 when they felt rested1 they might come down to the reception hall and meet some of the girls who would be their classmates during the year4 ,it was the custom1 she said1 for the pupils to meet for a social half-hour before dinner1 to talk over the happenings of the day1 their triumphs or failures in class-room1 or at sports1 or to tell what had interested those who had been out for a tramp4 ,there had been an afternoon session that day for the purpose of choosing from the list of non-compulsory studies4 ,usually1 ,miss ,fenler explained1 the classes meet for recitations in the forenoon only1 the afternoons being reserved for study1 and when lessons were prepared1 for recreation4 ,miss ,fenler left them1 closing the door softly behind her4 ,dorothy turned to look at ,nancy4 ,what do you think of her8 ,nancy said1 asking the question that she knew was puzzling ,dorothy4 ,after a second's thought ,dorothy said3 ,we shall get on with her1 ,i believe1 but ,i can't think ,arabella or ,patricia would be very comfortable here4 ,really1 they will be obliged to study here1 and ,arabella won't want to1 and ,i don't think ,patricia could4 ,if they don't study1 how can they remain8 ,nancy laughed outright4 ,don't worry about those two funny girls1 she said1 for if they won't study1 or can't study1 and so are not allowed to remain1 you'll be just as happy1 ,dorothy dear1 and for that matter1 so will they4 ,later1 when together they descended the quaint stairway1 they found the ever-present ,miss ,fenler1 waiting to present them4 ,vera ,vane1 and ,elfreda ,carleton1 each with an arm about the other's waist1 hastened forward to greet them4 ,oh1 we're so glad you and ,nancy have-- ,just a moment ,miss ,vane1 until you have been properly presented1 ,miss ,fenler said1 in a cold1 precise manner4 ,but ,i've always known ,dorothy-- ,that makes no difference1 the assistant said1 and she presented them in formal manner4 ,vera raised her eyebrows1 presented the tips of her fingers1 and told ,dorothy in a high1 squeaky voice that she was very glad to know her4 ,elf did the same in an exact copy of ,vera's manner4 ,several of the pupils giggled1 but to their credit1 ,dorothy and ,nancy managed not to laugh4 ,when a half-dozen girls had been presented1 some one told ,miss ,fenler that ,mrs4 ,marvin wished to see her1 and what had begun in a stilted manner1 became a genuine girl's social4 ,when the clock in the hall chimed six1 and they turned toward the long dining-room1 the two new pupils had already made the acquaintance of several girls1 who sat beside1 and opposite them at the table4 ,from a distant table ,patricia and ,arabella were turning to attract their attention4 ,it had happened that ,arabella had chosen to remain in her room during the half-hour reunion4 ,i don't feel like talking to a crowd of girls to-night1 she had said4 ,my6 ,if you don't care to talk to girls1 it must be you'd rather talk to boys6 ,patricia said1 laughing4 ,i would not6 ,arabella remarked1 with a flash in her eyes that one rarely saw4 ,oh1 do excuse me6 ,patricia said1 but that's all right1 for ,i'll stay right here and talk to you4 ,arabella was not in much of a mood for listening1 either1 but she thought it best not to say so4 ,at any other time1 ,arabella would have listened for hours to whatever ,patricia might care to say1 but to-night she was in a contrary mood4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,first ,,social ,two weeks at ,glenmore1 and ,dorothy and ,nancy were content4 ,letters from ,mrs4 ,dainty and ,aunt ,charlotte assured them that the dear travelers were well1 and that already ,mrs4 ,dainty was feeling the benefit of the change of scene4 ,mrs4 ,dainty had engaged a large1 front room at ,glenmore for the two girls to enjoy as a sitting-room and study1 from which led a tastefully furnished chamber1 and already they called it their school home4 ,patricia and ,arabella had a fair-sized room farther down the corridor4 ,vera ,vane and ,elfreda ,carleton were snugly settled in cozy quarters a few doors beyond the one that bore ,dorothy's and ,nancy's names4 ,patricia ,levine had ordered a large card1 elaborately lettered in red and green1 announcing that3 ,,this ,,suite ,,is ,,occupied ,,by ,,miss ,p4 ,,levine ,,and ,,miss ,a4 ,,correyville ,a small card was all that was necessary1 indeed only a small card was permitted1 but ,patricia did not know that4 ,after her usual manner of doing things1 she had ordered a veritable placard of the village sign painter1 and when she had tacked it upon the door1 it fairly shouted1 in red and green ink4 ,there6 she exclaimed1 ,i guess when the other girls see that1 they'll think the two who have this room are pretty swell4 ,isn't it1--rather--loud8 ventured ,arabella timidly4 ,patricia's eyes blazed4 ,loud8 she cried4 ,well1 what do you want8 ,a card that will whisper8 ,maybe it's all right1 ,arabella said quickly1 to which ,patricia responded3 ,of course it's all right4 ,it's more than all right6 ,it's very el'gant6 ,arabella was no match for her room-mate1 and whenever a question arose regarding any matter of mutual interest1 it was always ,patricia who settled it1 and ,arabella who meekly agreed that she was probably right4 ,arabella was not gentle1 indeed she possessed a decidedly contrary streak1 but she always feared offending ,patricia1 because ,patricia could be very disagreeable when opposed4 ,patricia was still admiring the gaudy lettering when a door at the far end of the corridor opened4 ,she sprang back into her room1 closed the door and standing close to it waited to hear if the big card provoked admiring comment4 ,nearer came the footsteps4 ,could they pass without seeing it8 ,they paused--then3 ,well1 just look at that6 ,a regular sign-board6 ,a few moments the two outside the door stood whispering1 then one giggled1 and together they walked to the stairway and descended1 laughing all the way4 ,patricia opened the door and peeped out4 ,it was that red-haired girl1 and the black-haired one that are always together1 she reported to ,arabella4 ,now1 what in the world were they laughing at8 ,laughing at the big card1 ,i suppose1 ,arabella said4 ,well1 there's nothing funny about that1 ,patricia said1 hotly4 ,it cost ever so much more than the teenty little cards on the other doors did4 ,patricia rated everything by its cost4 ,they knew that big card looked fine1 and they certainly could see that the lettering was showy1 she continued2 so why did they stand outside the door giggling8 ,how do ,i know8 ,arabella said4 ,open the door1 and we'll look at it again1 and see if-- ,a smart tap upon the door caused ,arabella to stop in the middle of the sentence4 ,s'pose it's those same girls8 whispered ,patricia4 ,if ,i thought it was ,i wouldn't stir a step4 ,a second rap1 louder1 and more insistent than the first brought both girls to their feet1 and ,patricia flew to open the door4 ,miss ,fenler glared at them through her glasses4 ,why did you not answer my first rap8 she asked4 ,we didn't know it was you1 said ,patricia4 ,ignoring the excuse1 ,miss ,fenler continued3 ,i called to tell you to remove that great card1 and put a small one in its place with only your names upon it1 and in regard to your efforts to obtain work1 you can not have any such notice upon your door4 ,instead you must leave your names at the office and ,i will see if any of the pupils will patronize you4 ,i don't know what you mean6 cried ,patricia1 flushed and angry4 ,for answer ,miss ,fenler pointed to a line penciled on the lower edge of the placard which read3 ,patching and mending done at reasonable prices4 ,we never wrote that6 cried ,arabella1 and we don't want to be patronized4 ,the red-haired girl1 and the black-haired girl that are always together1 stopped at the door and did something1 and then went down stairs laughing all the way1 screamed ,patricia4 ',twas one of those two who wrote that4 ,i must ask you to talk quietly1 ,miss ,fenler said1 and as to the writing1 ,i'll look into that4 ,in the meantime ,i'll get a small card for you to put in place of that large one4 ,she left the room1 and as soon as she was well out of hearing1 ,patricia vowed vengeance upon the two girls who had written the provoking legend4 ,i'll get even with them6 she said4 ,how will you8 ,arabella asked4 ,i don't know yet1 but you'd better believe ,i'll watch for a chance6 ,i'll watch1 too6 cried ,arabella4 ,it was the custom at ,glenmore to hold a little informal reception on an evening of the third week after the school had opened4 ,its purpose was to have pupils of all the classes present so that those who never met in the recitation-rooms might become acquainted4 ,when the announcement appeared upon the bulletin board it caused a flurry of excitement4 ,dorothy and ,nancy had already found new friends1 and were eager to meet others whose agreeable ways had interested them4 ,it's such a pleasant place1 ,dorothy said one morning as she stood brushing her hair1 and so many pleasant faces in the big class-room4 ,i saw at least a dozen ,i'd like to know1 when we were having the morning exercises1 and there's ever so many more that we have yet to meet4 ,and ,tuesday evening is sure to be jolly4 ,there'll be a crowd to talk with1 and one of the girls told me to-day that there's almost sure to be some music1 either vocal or instrumental1 and she said that last year they often had fine readers at the receptions1 ,nancy concluded4 ,they were on their way to the class-room1 when ,patricia and ,arabella joined them4 ,is the social to be a dressy affair8 ,patricia asked1 adding3 ,i hope it is1 because ,i shall be dressy1 whether any one else is or not4 ,they had reached the class-room door so that there was no time for either ,dorothy or ,nancy to reply to the silly remark if they had cared to do so4 99 99 99 99 99 ,at eight o'clock nearly all the pupils had assembled in the big reception-room1 and the hum of voices told that each was doing her best to outdo her neighbor4 ,near the center of the room a group of girls stood talking4 ,it was evident that the theme of their conversation was not engrossing1 for twice their leader1 ,betty ,chase1 had replied at random while her eyes roved toward the door1 and ,valerie ,dare remarked that her chum had been reading such a romantic story1 that she was eagerly looking for a knight in full armor to appear4 ,be still6 cried ,betty4 ,you know very well what ,i'm looking for4 ,i do indeed1 ,valerie admitted4 ,say1 girls6 ,you all know the two that are always together1 the one with goggles that we've dubbed the 'medicine chest1' and her chum who wears all the rainbow colors whenever and wherever she appears8 ,surely1 but what are their names8 inquired a pale1 sickly-looking girl who had joined the group4 ,don't know their names1 said ,betty1 but ,i heard ,miss ,rainbow telling her friend that she intended to wear 'something very dressy' to-night1 so ,i'm eager to see her4 ,my6 ,here she comes now4 ,good gracious6 gasped ,valerie1 under her breath4 ,with head very high1 ,patricia rushed1 rather than walked across the room1 until she reached the center1 when she stopped as if to permit every one to obtain a good view of her costume4 ,her bold manner made her more absurd even than her dress which was1 as ,betty ,chase declared1 surprising6 ,turning slowly around to the right1 then deliberately to the left1 she appeared to feel herself a paragon of fashion1 a model dressed to give the pupils of ,glenmore a chance to observe something a bit finer than they had ever seen before4 ,as ,patricia slowly turned1 ,arabella1 like a satellite1 as slowly revolved about her4 ,who could wonder that a wave of soft laughter swept over the room4 ,it was evident that vanity equalling that of the peacock moved ,patricia to turn about that every one might see both front and back of her dress1 but no one could have guessed why ,arabella in a plain brown woolen dress kept pace with her silly friend4 ,it was not vanity that kept droll little ,arabella moving4 ,no1 indeed4 ,thus far1 ,arabella had made no new acquaintances4 ,as she entered the reception-room with ,patricia she saw only a sea of strange faces1 and with a wild determination at least to have ,patricia to speak to1 she trotted around her1 that she might not1 at any moment1 find herself talking to ,patricia's back4 ,that surely would be awkward1 she thought4 ,patricia's dress was a light gray silk1 tastefully made1 and had she been content to wear it as it had been sent to her from ,new ,york1 she would have looked well-dressed1 and no one would have made comments upon her appearance4 ,the soft red girdle gave a touch of color1 but not nearly enough to please ,patricia4 ,at the village store she had purchased ribbons of many colors1 from which she had made bows or rosettes of every hue1 and these she had tacked upon her slippers4 ,her hair was tied with a bright blue ribbon1 and over the shoulders of her blouse she had sewed pink and yellow ribbons4 ,narrow green edged her red girdle4 ,blue and buff1 rose and orange1 straw-color and lavender1 surely not a tint was missing1 and the result was absolutely comical6 ,one would have thought that a lunatic had designed the costume4 ,and when she believed that her dress had been seen from all angles1 ,patricia left the reception-room1 passing to a larger room beyond1 where she seated herself1 and at once assumed a bored expression4 ,not the least interest in other pupils had she4 ,she had come to the little social to be gazed at1 and as soon as she believed that all must have seen her1 the party held no further interest for her4 ,she heard the buzz of whispered conversation in the room that she had left1 and she wished that she might know what they were saying4 ,it was well that she could not4 ,what an unpleasant-looking girl6 said one4 ,wasn't that dress a regular rainbow8 whispered another4 ,oh1 but she was funny1 turning around for us to see her1 just like a wax dummy in a store window1 said a third4 ,illustration3 ,,she ,,wished ,,that ,,she ,,might ,,know ,,what ,,they ,,were ,,saying4--,page #cb4 ,she's queer to go off by herself6 remarked the first one who had spoken4 ,we're not very nice1 said ,betty ,chase1 who thus far had not spoken1 that is not very kind1 to be so busily talking about her4 ,well1 ,i declare1 ,betty1 who'd ever dream that you1 who are always getting into scrapes would boldly give us a lecture4 ,betty's black eyes flashed4 ,i know ,i get into funny scrapes1 she snapped1 but whatever ,i do1 ,i don't talk about people1 ,ida ,mayo4 ,you don't have time to1 exclaimed her chum1 ,valerie ,dare4 ,it takes all your spare time to plan mischief4 ,in the laugh that followed1 ,betty forgot that she was vexed4 ,patricia began to find it rather dull sitting alone in a room back of the reception-hall4 ,she felt that she had entered the hall in a burst of glory2 had fairly dazzled all beholders6 ,she had believed that the girls would be so entranced with her appearance that they would follow her that they might again inspect her costume4 ,she was amazed that she had been permitted to sit alone if she chose4 ,the other pupils thought it strange that she should choose to remain alone instead of becoming acquainted with those who were to be her schoolmates for the year1 but believing that she was determined to be unsocial1 they made no effort to disturb her4 ,arabella1 who had followed her1 became curious as to what was going on in the hall1 and from time to time1 crept to the wide doorway1 peeped out to get a better view1 then returned to report what she had seen4 ,everybody is talking to ,dorothy and ,nancy1 she said in a stage whisper1 then3 ,vera ,vane seems to know almost every one already1 and ,elf ,carleton is telling a funny story1 and making all the girls around her laugh4 ,and1 ,patricia1 you ought to come here and see ,betty ,chase4 ,she has a long straw1 and she's tickling ,valerie's neck with it4 ,valerie doesn't dream what it is1 and while she's talking1 keeps trying to brush off the tickly thing4 ,come and see her6 ,patricia did not stir4 ,she longed to see the fun1 but she felt rather abashed to come out from her corner4 ,the sound of a violin being tuned proved too tempting1 however1 and she joined ,arabella in the doorway4 ,one of the youngest pupils stood1 violin in hand1 while1 at the piano1 ,betty ,chase was playing the prelude4 ,lina ,danford handled the bow cleverly1 and played her little solo with evident ease4 ,her audience was delighted1 and gayly their hands clapped their approval4 ,the two in the doorway stood quite still1 and gave no evidence of pleasure4 ,arabella was too spunkless to applaud2 ,patricia was too jealous4 ,arabella1 after her own dull fashion1 had enjoyed the music4 ,patricia surely had not4 ,patricia never could bear to see or hear any one do anything6 ,let's go up to our room1 she whispered4 ,p'rhaps some of the others will play or sing1 ventured ,arabella1 who wished to remain4 ,let 'em6 ,patricia said1 even her whisper showing that she was vexed4 ',let 'em8' ,arabella drawled4 ,why ,i'll have to let 'em4 ,i couldn't stop them1 and ,i don't want to4 ,i'd like to hear them4 ,then stay and hear them6 snapped ,patricia1 and she rushed out into the midst of the groups of listeners1 and dashed up the stairway before ,miss ,fenler could stop her4 ,what could have been more rude and ill-bred than to leave in such haste1 thereby disturbing those who were enjoying the music8 ,arabella's first thought was to follow ,patricia lest she be angry1 but she saw ,miss ,fenler's effort to stay ,patricia1 and she dared not leave the room4 ,arabella felt as if she were between two desperate people4 ,she feared ,miss ,fenler1 as did every pupil at ,glenmore1 and by remaining where she was1 she certainly was not offending her1 but she could not forget ,patricia4 ,what a temper she would be in when1 after the concert was over1 ,arabella1 cautiously1 would turn the latch1 and enter their chamber6 ,patricia was wide awake1 and listening1 when at last ,arabella reached their door4 ,softly she tried to open it so carefully that if ,patricia were asleep she might remain so4 ,patricia had turned the key in the lock1 and she fully enjoyed lying comfortably on the bed1 and listening while on the other side of the door her chum was turning the knob first one way and then the other4 ,there's no knowing how long she would have permitted ,arabella to stand out in the hall1 but suddenly she remembered that ,miss ,fenler strode down the corridors every night after lights were supposed to be out1 just to learn if any one of the girls were defying the rule4 ,with a rather loud ,o dear6 ,patricia flounced out of bed1 went to the door1 pretended to be so sleepy that she could not at once find the key1 and then1 as the door opened1 gave an exaggerated yawn4 ,for once ,arabella was quick-witted4 ,miss ,fenler is just coming up the stairs1 she said4 ,patricia forgot the scolding that she had been preparing for ,arabella1 and instead she said3 ,hurry6 ,put out the light4 ,you can undress in the dark1 but for goodness' sake1 don't stumble over anything6 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,mischief ,a few days later1 ,dorothy stood at the window looking out upon a windswept road1 where not even so much as a dry leaf remained to tell of the vanished ,autumn4 ,the sky was cloud-covered1 and the gaunt trees bent and swayed as if a giant arm were shaking them4 ,we missed our afternoon trip down to the village1 she said1 but no one would care to walk in this gale1 and even--why1 who--8 ,nancy1 come here6 ,isn't that ,patricia8 ,nancy ran to the window4 ,why1 no--yes1--,well1 it certainly is ,patricia1 she said4 ,and just look at the parcel she's carrying6 ,whatever it is1 she must have wanted it1 to go out such day as this1 said ,nancy1 and look6 ,miss ,fenler is out on the porch1--why1 she's actually feeling of it to see what's in the parcel4 ,really1 ,i don't see why it's all right for her to do that4 ,it does seem queer1 agreed ,dorothy1 but you know it is the rule that the girls must not bring large parcels into this house1 unless they're willing to show what is in them4 ,there6 ,the paper has burst open1 and1--,well1 did you see that8 ,miss ,fenler was actually thrusting a long bony finger into the opening with the hope of learning if anything that had been forbidden1 was being smuggled into the house inside the folds of gayly flowered goods that ,patricia had declared was a tea-gown4 ,after a moment1 ,miss ,fenler nodded as if dismissing the matter1 and ,patricia1 her chin very high1 passed into the hall4 ,miss ,fenler turned to look after her1 as if not sure if she had done wisely in permitting ,patricia to enter with so large a bundle1 without first compelling her to open it1 and spread its contents for inspection4 ,patricia's eyes had flashed when questioned about her parcel1 but once inside the hall1 her anger increased1 and she mounted the stairs1 tramping along the upper hall so noisily that several pupils looked out to learn who had arrived4 ,farther down the hall a door opened1 and ,betty ,chase's laughing face looked out4 ,she1 too1 had seen ,patricia and ,miss ,fenler on the porch and1 while she did not like ,patricia1 she detested the woman who seemed to enjoy spying1 so her sympathy was1 of course1 with the pupil4 ,had a scrap with the ',fender'8 ,i'd half a mind to say 'cow-catcher1' she said4 ,well1 what if ,i did8 ,patricia said1 rudely1 and walked on toward her room4 ,betty looked after her4 ,well1 of all things6 she whispered1 then said1 ,the next time you need sympathy1 try to buy some at the grocer's4 ,don't look to me6 ,patricia had done a rude1 and foolish thing4 ,betty ,chase was a favorite1 and ,patricia had longed to be one of her friends1 but thus far ,betty had been surrounded by her classmates1 who hovered about her so persistently that the pupils from ,merrivale had not yet become acquainted with her4 ,betty had hailed ,patricia pleasantly1 and she really might have paused for a little chat1 but she was one of those unpleasant persons who1 when some one person has annoyed her1 is vexed with the whole world4 ,she took little heed as to where she was going1 and stamped along1 muttering some of the many wrathful thoughts that filled her mind4 ,reaching a door that stood ajar1 she pushed it open1 and rushed in exclaiming3 ,the horrid old thing tried to pick open my parcel1 but ,i wouldn't let her4 ,i guess ,miss ,sharp-eyes won't try again to--,why1 where are you1 ,arabella8 ,a tall1 thin girl with a pale face and colorless hair emerged from the closet where she had been hanging some garments4 ,do you rush into people's rooms1 and call them names8 she asked in a peculiar drawl4 ,patricia for once1 was too surprised to speak4 ,my name is not ,arabella1 nor ,miss ,sharp-eyes1 concluded the girl4 ,i--,i beg your pardon4 ,i thought this was my own room1 gasped ,patricia1 and rushing from the room1 opened the next door on which her own name and ,arabella's appeared4 ,she flew in1 banging the door behind her4 ,arabella sprang to her feet1 dropped her glasses1 picked them up1 and setting them upon her nose1 stared through them at ,patricia4 ,don't you speak a single word6 commanded ,patricia1 for ,i'm 'bout as mad as ,i can be now1 and if ,i get any madder-- ,she stopped in sheer amazement1 for ,arabella had put on her hat1 and was now getting into her coat4 ,where are you going8 demanded ,patricia1 but ,arabella put her left hand over her lips1 while with her right she slipped another button into its buttonhole1 and sidled toward the door4 ,patricia sprang forward1 locked the door1 took ,arabella by the shoulder1 and pushed her toward a chair4 ,surprised1 and calmed by ,arabella's silence1 and her attempt to leave the room1 ,patricia now spoke in an injured tone4 ,i'd never believe you'd start to go out1 when ,i'd just come in so vexed1 and with loads of things to tell you4 ,for goodness' sake1 can't you answer8 ,you told me not to say a word1 said ,arabella1 and you looked so cross that ,i just didn't dare to1 and ,i was going out so ,i'd be sure not to4 ,patricia was flattered to learn that ,arabella had actually been afraid of her4 ,goosie6 she cried1 when will you learn that ,i don't always mean all that ,i say6 ,old ,sharp-eyes didn't really open my bundle4 ,come over here and see what was hidden in it4 ,she opened the parcel of gaily-flowered cotton1 and began to unfold the goods4 ,there6 she cried when the last fold was loosed1 and six packages were proudly displayed4 ,good gracious6 cried ,arabella1 ,i don't see how you got inside the door with all those things1 for ,i saw her pinching your bundle1 and you'd think that she must have felt those little parcels even if they were wrapped inside that cloth4 ,well1 you may be very sure she didn't feel them1 for if she had1 ,i'd never had them to show you4 ,it was1 indeed1 a fixed rule at ,glenmore that pupils1 except by special permission1 should bring no food into the building1 the reason being that plenty of good food was provided at meal times1 and eating between meals was forbidden4 ,patricia's idea of a treat was a variety of all sorts1 but never a thought had she as to whether the articles that she chose would combine well4 ,arabella1 often annoyed with indigestion1 gazed at the treat that ,patricia had placed upon the little table1 and wondered how she would feel when she had eaten her share4 ,and eat it she must1 for ,patricia never would forgive her if she did not4 ,more than that1 she must not refuse anything1 because ,patricia would consider that a sure sign that her treat had failed to please1 and for a week at least1 would talk of ,arabella as ungrateful4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in a room farther up the corridor1 ,vera and ,elf were laughing and chuckling over much the same trick as that which ,patricia had played1 only that ,vera and ,elf had brought a huge parcel into the house1 and had not been questioned regarding it4 ,it was late afternoon when ,vera had returned from the village4 ,dorothy saw her far up the road1 and wondered why she walked so slowly1 but as she neared the gateway1 it was evident that she carried a heavy parcel4 ,her storm-coat had a deep cape1 but it only partly hid the bundle4 ,she looked up toward the window where ,dorothy stood1 laughed1 and made a gesture to indicate that she was going around to the rear of the house4 ,nancy1 what do you suppose the girls are up to8 ,vera has just come from the village with a bundle twice as big as the one ,miss ,fenler found ,patricia bringing in1 and she has gone around toward the back door with it4 ,she's trying to dodge ,miss ,fenler1 ,nancy said4 ,but1 ,nancy1 she can't get to her room from the back way4 ,the back door leads into the kitchen4 ,there's no back stairway4 ,i know that1 ,nancy said1 but ,vera isn't going around the house for the sake of a walk4 ,she's intending to get in the back way ,i do believe4 ,i wonder if she has coaxed one of the maids to help her4 ,come on1 down the hall to the big window that has a balcony under it4 ,we'll see if she really gets in4 ,dorothy clasped ,nancy's outstretched hand and they ran softly along the hall1 reaching the window just in time to see a bulky-looking bundle swinging from a rope1 and occasionally bumping against the house as it made its way slowly upward4 ,on the ground stood ,vera eagerly looking up1 while1 from the window of their room ,elf reached out1 desperately struggling to draw the heavy bundle up to the window sill4 ,don't stand there looking up at me6 she said in a voice hardly above a whisper4 ,come up here before somebody sees you4 ,vera lost no time in doing as ,elf said1 while ,dorothy and ,nancy wasted not a moment1 but sped down the hall1 and once safely in their room1 sat down1 laughing at what they had seen4 ,meanwhile1 ,vera raced along the hall1 and into her room1 flew to the window and soon the precious bundle lay on the floor1 the two girls bending over it4 ,oo-oo6 ,cream-cakes6 ,a box of fudge1 frosted cake6 cried ,elf1 then4 ,what's in this tin can8 ,oysters1 said ,vera1 and we'll have a hot stew to-night after every one is in bed6 ,my6 ,but how can we cook it8 ,elf asked4 ,in the can1 said ,vera4 ,that's easy 'nough4 ,there's a pint of oysters1 and three pints of milk all shaken up together in that two-quart can4 ,we can heat it over the gas jet4 ,i'm sure they'll cook all right4 ,why1 ,vera ,vane6 ,it will take hours to make it boil over that gas jet4 ,i guess we'll enjoy taking turns holding it1 while we wait for it to cook6 ,pooh6 ,it'll taste so good we'll forget our arms ache when we get the very first spoonful6 ,elf was not sure about that1 but ,vera had a way of speaking as if what she said settled the matter1 so although not convinced1 ,elf made no reply4 ,come6 ,help me put these things away1 cried ,vera4 ,we don't want any one to know about our fine little after-bedtime party1 and we ought to hide our treat before some one comes to our door4 ,so the cakes and fudge were placed on the shelf in the closet1 where with the big can full of oysters and milk they became close neighbors with the hat-boxes4 ,then ,vera and ,elf sat down to prepare their lessons for the next day4 ,they had invited ,betty ,chase and her chum1 ,valerie ,dare1 to spend the evening with them1 and enjoy the treat4 ,they were to go to bed at the usual time1 have their light out at nine o'clock1 and as soon as they heard ,miss ,fenler pass down the hall1 and then descend the stairs1 they were to open their door softly1 close it behind them1 and then1 with greatest caution1 make their way along the hall to ,vera's room4 ,night came1 their lessons were prepared for the morrow1 their lights were out1 when they heard ,miss ,fenler pass their door1 then1--why did she return and pass the door a second time8 ,was it imagination1 or did she pause before going on8 ,their hearts beat faster1 and ,valerie laid her hand over hers1 she afterward said1 to hush it so that the dreaded ,miss ,fenler might not hear it4 ,has she gone8 whispered ,betty1 to which ,valerie1 who was nearest the door1 replied with a low1 ,sh--6 ,farther up the corridor two others listened4 ,not a sound was heard in the hall1 and ,betty ,chase cautiously opened the door a few inches4 ,a board in the floor creaked1 and she shut the door so quickly that she forgot to be careful1 and one might have heard it the length of the hall4 ,oo-oo6 whispered ,valerie4 ,you let me manage that door1 please1 the next time it's opened4 ,when'll the next time be8 whispered ,betty with a chuckle4 ,now6 whispered ,valerie1 and stepping out into the hall1 they carefully closed the door1 then ran softly along to ,vera's door1 and tapped upon the panel with a hat-pin for a knocker4 ,the door opened and they were only too glad to have it close behind them4 ,yet a bit longer they waited before lighting up1 and while they waited1 they sat upon the bed and talked in whispers4 ,the street lamp threw a band of light across the room4 ,five minutes later1 the blankets were taken from the bed and hung over the door1 that no ray of light from the room might be visible in the hall1 through either crack or keyhole4 ,a second blanket was pinned to the curtains1 that neither coachman nor maid returning from the town might catch a glimpse of light4 ,then the fun began4 ,they had become bolder1 and forgetting to whisper1 talked in undertones4 ,vera1 mounted on a cushioned stool1 was holding the can over the gas jet1 and watching eagerly for some sign of boiling4 ,the milk is steaming1 she announced4 ,s'pose it's done8 ,not yet1 goosie6 ,elf replied1 and ,i know1 she continued1 'cause ,i remember hearing our cook say that the stew was ready when the oysters looked all puckered around their edges4 ,o gracious6 ,if that's true1 somebody'll have to come and hold this old can a while4 ,my arm is about broken6 ,betty seized the can1 and mounted the stool1 and ,vera1 thus relieved1 ran to the closet1 returning with the cream-cakes and the fudge4 ,the white counterpane stripped from the bed1 and spread upon the floor1 served as a lunch-cloth1 and when the goodies were set upon it1 the big can in the center1 steaming1 if not boiling1 the four sat cross-legged around the feast1 and prepared to enjoy it4 ,salt and pepper in abundance had been thrown into the can1 so that while it lacked sufficient cooking1 it surely did not lack seasoning4 ,bravely each tried to eat her share1 but so salt was it1 that it almost brought the tears4 ,the cream-cakes were fine1 and the girls were laughing softly over ,betty's remark that no one knew of their little party1 when a knock upon the door caused ,valerie to drop her cream-cake4 ,in an instant she had rolled over1 crawled under the bed1 ,betty following1 while ,vera and ,elf sprang into bed1 drawing the coverings to their chins to hide that they were fully dressed4 ,it was one of ,miss ,fenler's rules that pupils should never lock their doors4 ,now in a harsh voice she called3 ,open this door at once6 ,vera sprang to the floor1 shut off the gas1 softly turned the key in the lock1 and was back in bed and covered up to her eyes1 in a second4 ,upon opening the door1 ,miss ,fenler stumbled into the blanket that hung from the door-frame4 ,crossing the room to light the gas1 she put her right foot directly upon a cream-cake1 while with her left she upset the can of stew4 ,an angry exclamation1 properly stifled1 caused the two under the bed to nudge each other1 while struggling not to laugh4 ,vera and ,elf lay quite still1 the puff drawn up to their closely shut eyes4 ,miss ,fenler lit the gas1 and it was just as well that the culprits dared not open their eyes1 for the face that she turned toward them was not pleasant to see4 ,she was desperately angry4 ,what does this mean8 she cried shrilly4 ,vera and ,elf breathed heavily1 as if soundly sleeping4 ,you're not asleep6 she declared1 and ,i insist that you answer me4 ,again ,i ask1 what does this mean8 ,vera and ,elf breathed harder than before1 ,vera adding a soft little snore4 ,oh1 very well6 cried ,miss ,fenler4 ,if you are determined not to reply to-night1 ,i will report you to ,mrs4 ,marvin1 and you may make your explanations to her to-morrow4 ,she left the room1 her anger increased by their obstinate pretense of slumber4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,a ,,wonderful ,,tonic ,vera awoke long before daylight1 and lay thinking4 ,that's just the way ,i do things1 she said in a voice barely above a whisper4 ,i plan the fun1 and always have a good time1 that is 'most' always1 but it's sure to wind up in a scrape4 ,i plan how to get into mischief4 ,why don't ,i ever plan how to get out8 ,elf stirred uneasily1 and ,vera gave her shoulder a vigorous shake4 ,wake up6 she commanded4 ,wake up1 and help me plan what we'd better say when we have to face ,mrs4 ,marvin4 ,oh1 ,i'm sleepy1 drawled ,elf4 ,we're smart enough to say something when she stares at us over her spectacles4 ,we'll say we-- ,a wee snore finished the sentence1 and ,vera turned over with a lurch that shook the bed4 ,she thought it very hard that she must lie awake and worry1 while ,elf could sleep2 in short1 she wanted some one to worry with her4 ,it's like the way ,i climb trees when we're away in the summer1 she muttered4 ,it's fine climbing up1 but ,i'm always afraid to climb down4 ,if ,bob is near1 ,i can always make him get me down1 but ,bob isn't here to get me out of this mess1 and ,elf won't even try to keep awake to help me think4 ,she concluded that it was very unfeeling for ,elf to be so sleepy4 ,her cheeks were flushed1 and her head ached4 ,o dear6 she whispered1 softly1 ,dorothy ,dainty and ,nancy ,ferris are full of fun1 but they never get into a regular fix such as ,i'm in now4 ,i don't see how they manage to have such good times without ever getting mixed up in something that's hard to explain4 ,and ,betty and ,valerie will get off ,scot free1 for ',the ,fender' couldn't see them under the bed1 and of course we'll not tell that they were there4 ,she did not know that when ,betty and ,valerie had reached their own room they found that in their haste to arrive at the feast they had left the light burning in their room6 ,oh1 indeed ,miss ,fenler had seen that1 and she had opened the door4 ,she had found no one there4 ,she had seen that four had been enjoying the feast1 because at each of the four sides of the spread were fragments of partly eaten cream-cakes1 or bits of fruitcakes4 ,her sharp eyes had seen enough to assure her that two other girls were in hiding somewhere in the room1 doubtless the two whose light had been left burning4 ,she thought it clever to let them think that they had escaped notice4 ,their surprise would be greater when she sent them to ,mrs4 ,marvin the next morning4 ,daylight found ,vera tossing and turning1 while ,elf was dreaming4 ,it was not that ,vera could not bear reproof4 ,she could listen for a half-hour to a description of her faults1 and look like a cheerful flaxen-haired sprite all the while4 ,that which now worried her was the thought that ,mrs4 ,marvin might send her home4 ,it was the fifth time during the month that she had been reprimanded1 and even gentle ,mrs4 ,marvin might reach the limit of her patience4 ,her father1 she knew1 would speak reprovingly1 and then laugh at her4 ,her mother1 always weak-willed1 would say3 ,vera1 dear1 ,i wonder if you were really naughty1 or if it was that they didn't quite understand you4 ,oh1 there was nothing to fear about being sent home1 but the fact that thus she would lose a deal of fun that she could so enjoy with a lot of lively girls of her own age4 ,she resolved to appear as off-hand as usual1 unless ,mrs4 ,marvin should say that she must not remain at ,glenmore1 when she would throw pride to the winds1 and plead1 yes1 even beg to continue as a pupil of the school4 ,she turned and looked at ,elf1 still soundly sleeping4 ,o dear6 ,i'm the only girl in school who has anything to fret over1 she whispered4 ,it happened1 however1 that at the far end of the building1 another girl was quite as worried as ,vera1 but it was a very different matter that had caused her to wake1 as ,vera had1 before daybreak4 ,she had entered ,glenmore a few weeks after school had opened1 and was rather a quiet girl1 as yet acquainted with but few of the pupils4 ,some one circulated the story that she was being educated by an uncle who was a very rich man4 ,patricia ,levine had added that as he lived in ,n',york1 and as her mother also lived there1 she1 of course1 knew him1 and she had told ,patricia that old ,mr4 ,mayo was more than rich1 that he was many1 many times a millionaire4 ,ida ,mayo is to be an heiress1 and have all that money4 ,just think of that6 ,patricia had said1 and immediately began to be very friendly with her4 ,betty ,chase boldly asked ,patricia why it followed that because ,mrs4 ,levine and old ,mr4 ,mayo lived in ,new ,york they must1 of course1 be acquainted1 to which ,patricia snapped4 ,i didn't say they must be acquainted4 ,i said 'they are'6 ,ida ,mayo seemed not to notice that ,patricia sought to be friendly1 nor did she make any effort to become acquainted with any of the other pupils4 ,she seemed content to stand apart and watch the others in their games4 ,it was ,dorothy ,dainty who seemed to hold her attention1 and once ,betty ,chase asked boldly3 ,i wonder why you watch ,dorothy so much4 ,i don't know1 ,ida had said1 then added1 ,i guess it's because she's worth looking at8 ,secretly she envied ,dorothy's lovely color1 and wished that her own cheeks were as fresh and fair4 ,that evening in her little room1 she looked in disgust at her reflection in the mirror4 ,a pale face returned her gaze1 and she made a grimace4 ,it's bad enough to be pale without having a few of last summer's freckles left to make it worse1 she cried4 ,there were lessons to be prepared for the morrow1 but the reflection in the mirror had so disturbed her that she cast lessons aside and commenced reading a story in a new magazine4 ,the heroine was described as having a wonderful complexion1 as fair1 as pink and white1 as perfect in coloring as a sea-shell4 ,of course6 said ,ida1 and that's the sort ,i wish ,i had4 ,her eyes strayed from the story of the beautiful heroine to the advertising column4 ,raise mushrooms1 read one advertisement1 next3 ,try our patent collar-button1 then3 ,write poems for us4 ,how stupid6 she said4 ,who'd want to raise mushrooms1 ,i'd like to know8 ,who wants their old collar-buttons8 ,and for mercy's sake1 how many people who read those advertising columns can write poetry8 ,she was about to toss the magazine upon the couch1 when two words in large print caught her attention4 ,banish freckles-- ,what's that8 she whispered4 ,banish freckles and have a perfect complexion1 she read4 ,send fifty cents to us1 or obtain our tonic at any drug-store4 ,directions inside package4 ,it must have been the best of good luck that had prompted her to neglect her lessons1 and spend the evening hours with the magazine1 she thought4 ,she was far too impatient to wait to receive the tonic by mail4 ,she had never been to the local drug-store1 so the clerks would not know her1 but if any of the ,glenmore girls were there1 she would buy some candy1 and wait until another day to obtain the tonic4 ,she drew a long breath when she saw1 upon entering1 that she was the only customer4 ,the clerk thought it odd that a little girl should be buying a complexion-beautifier1 but concluded that she1 doubtless1 was doing the errand for some older person4 ,night came1 and at the hour when ,vera and ,elf with ,betty and ,valerie were tasting their goodies1 and listening to every sound that might be approaching footsteps1 ,ida ,mayo1 not a whit less excited1 was breathlessly reading the directions for applying the tonic4 ,spread the tonic over the face1 rubbing it thoroughly into the skin4 ,let it remain all night4 ,you will be astonished at the result4 ,a dozen times during the night she had been awakened with the scalding1 burning of her face4 ,the directions had said that the skin would probably burn1 but the result in the morning would fully repay the user1 by the extreme loveliness of the radiant complexion6 ,ida bore the burning bravely1 but when the first faint light appeared she sat up in bed1 pressing her hands to her smarting cheeks4 ,if the freckles are gone1 and my skin is fair1 ,i won't say a word about this burning1 she said4 ,but how1 she continued1 can my face look even half-way decent1 when it is smarting so furiously8 ,at last1 she could bear it no longer1 and springing out of bed1 she ran to the dresser1 and gasped as she looked at her reflection4 ,even in the dim light of the dawn of a cloudy day1 she saw that her cheeks1 her forehead1 her chin1 were all very red4 ,were they spotty as well8 ,o dear6 ,if it was only light enough for me to really see6 she whispered4 ,she looked at the tiny clock4 ,at that early hour no one was stirring at ,glenmore4 ,no one would see her if she went down to the door1 and it would be lighter there4 ,a gable shaded the window1 and made her room less light4 ,thrusting her tangled locks up under the elastic of her muslin cap1 and throwing on a loose sack1 she snatched the hand-mirror from her dresser1 and softly yet swiftly went out into the hall and down the stairs4 ,she paused in the lower hall1 there thinking that she heard some one coming1 she rushed out on the piazza1 down the steps1 and across the lawn to an open space where nothing could obscure the light4 ,already it was growing lighter1 and she lifted the hand-mirror4 ,a look of horror swept over her little face4 ,oh1 what a fright6 she cried1 as she stood staring at the reflection4 ,her face was scarlet1 and if the freckles had disappeared1 it was because they had taken the skin with them when they went6 ,for a moment she stood as if rooted to the spot1 then realizing that some restless pupil might be up and chance to see her from the window1 she turned and ran at top speed toward the house4 ,the big door stood open as she had left it1 and she raced across the hall and up the stairway1 entering her room just as footsteps echoed along the hall4 ,she closed the door and sat down4 ,why did ,i see that horrid old advertisement8 she exclaimed4 ,her smarting1 burning cheeks were enough to bear1 but worse than that was the thought that she would be compelled to appear in the class-room4 ,how the girls would stare at her6 ,what would they say among themselves8 ,illustration3 ,,oh1 ,,what ,a ,,fright6 ,,she ,,cried4--,page #gc4 ,vera believed herself to be the only girl at ,glenmore who had even the slightest reason for worrying4 ,ida ,mayo possessed the same idea4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,marvin listened to all that ,miss ,fenler had to say about the feast1 the two who had planned it1 and the other two who beyond a doubt had been invited guests4 ,and ,i should send them home1 and at the same time mail a tart letter to their parents telling them that their room was better than their company4 ,mrs4 ,marvin looked up at the thin1 harsh face of her assistant4 ,mercy is sometimes as valuable in a case like this1 as extreme severity1 she said4 ,they have broken a well-known rule here1 and must be dealt with accordingly4 ,they must be made clearly to understand that a repetition would not be overlooked4 ,i am only an assistant1 ,miss ,fenler said1 but ,i have my opinions1 and ,i can't help thinking that you are too gentle with them4 ,they have been mischievous1 surely1 but had their mischief been such as would harm1 or annoy their classmates1 ,i should have been more severe4 ,you may send them to me4 ,i will see them before the school opens for the morning session4 ,there is another pupil that ,i must speak of1 and that is the ,mayo girl4 ,it has been her habit to keep apart from the other girls4 ,she seems to prefer to spend much of her leisure time not only indoors1 but in her room4 ,lina ,danford1 the little girl whose room is next hers told me that ,ida ,mayo had been crying ever since daybreak4 ,lina thought that she must be ill1 and she knocked at the door1 but while for a moment the crying ceased1 there was no answer1 even when the knock was several times repeated4 ,have you tried to rouse her8 ,mrs4 ,marvin said1 her fine face showing genuine alarm4 ,i knocked three times1 but received no reply1 and the door is locked4 ,i will go to her1 ,mrs4 ,marvin said4 ,you may open school for me4 ,say nothing to the other girls4 ,i will talk with them at the noon recess4 ,mrs4 ,marvin hurried up the stairway1 and along the upper hall to the corner room4 ,she paused before tapping4 ,if ,ida ,mayo had been crying1 she was not crying now4 ,she knocked and waited4 ,knocked again1 and again she waited4 ,ida1 you must open your door for me4 ,this is ,mrs4 ,marvin4 ,the morning session had opened1 and fresh young voices could be plainly heard4 ,they were singing ,ida's favorite1 an old song1 ,all hail1 pleasant morning4 ,mrs4 ,marvin heard a faint sob4 ,ida1 ,i am your friend4 ,let me in1 and tell me what troubles you4 ,no response4 ,open the door quickly1 or ,i shall call ,marcus to force it open4 ,ida opened the door with a jerk4 ,there6 she cried1 angrily4 ,i don't see why ,i could not stay alone in my room until ,i looked fit to be seen6 ,mrs4 ,marvin thought the raw1 scarlet face denoted some desperate illness1 but chancing to look toward the dresser1 she caught sight of the bottle1 uncorked1 and with its showy label bearing the legend3 ,,tonic4 ,,twelve-,,hour ,,beautifier4 ,mrs4 ,marvin sat down upon a low seat1 and drew ,ida down beside her1 and patiently she listened to the story of the longing for beauty1 the reading of the advertisement4 ,i s'pose ,i put on too much1 ,ida concluded4 ,they said1 ',just a bit on the tip of the fingers rubbed into the skin each night for two weeks would work wonders4 ,they said used generously you'd be surprised at the result6 ,i guess ,i was4 ,i thought if a little would do so much1 a lot of it would do more1 so ,i put it on thick1 and went to bed4 ,o dear6 ,it has been a comfort to tell you1 but ,i can't face those girls while ,i look like this6 ,i shall not ask you to1 ,mrs4 ,marvin said4 ,i will bring you some cooling ointment to heal your face1 and ,i'll send old ,judy up with your meals4 ,i will tell her to say to any pupils who may question her1 ',miss ,mayo feels so miserable that she'll not come down to her meals for a few days4' ,judy is absolutely trustworthy4 ,judy proved herself quick-witted1 for when an inquisitive pupil tried to peep into the room as she entered with the tray1 ,judy turned sharply1 remarking3 ,ah don' s'pose yo wants ter ketch anythin' what's 'tagious1 does ya8 ,the pupil backed away from the door1 when at a distance she said3 ,you don't seem to be much afraid4 ,ah isn't 'fraid1 'cause ,i's had dis same ting4 ,she had indeed suffered in the same way4 ,true it was not freckles that annoyed her4 ,it was a longing to rid herself of her black skin that had tempted her to purchase a bottle of a so-called beautifier1 warranted to produce a new skin4 ,that was some years before1 but ,judy remembered it4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,sleighing ,,party ,dorothy was never inclined toward mischief1 and now1 when her mother was away traveling for change of scene1 and much-needed rest1 she felt very eager to send each month1 a fine report of her progress4 ,dorothy was full of life1 and loved a good time1 if ,nancy1 her dearest friend might enjoy it with her4 ,when the news was circulated that the great sleigh at the livery stable had been chartered by ,mrs4 ,marvin1 and that sleigh-rides would be in order as long as the snow lasted1 none was more eager for the pleasure than ,dorothy4 ,to be sure1 she had always enjoyed plenty of sleigh-rides when at home at the ,stone ,house1 but here was a novelty6 ,the big sleigh at ,glenmore would hold twenty girls1 while the beautiful ,russian sleigh at the ,stone ,house held four1 and the pony sleigh two4 ,mrs4 ,marvin1 in making out the list for each party1 was careful to place those already acquainted together4 ,thus1 the list that was headed with ,dorothy's name included ,nancy ,ferris1 of course1 then ,vera1 ,elf1 ,patricia1 ,arabella1 ,betty1 ,valerie1 and twelve others1 who were at least slightly acquainted with those already named4 ,they were about evenly divided in another way4 ,ten were exceedingly lively1 while the other half of the list were pleasant girls of quieter type4 ,mrs4 ,marvin well knew that twenty lively girls would be likely to be a bit too gay for the steady-going inhabitants of the town of ,glenmore1 while the school must keep up its reputation for being cheerful1 but surely not noisy nor flighty6 ,the day for the first sleigh-ride dawned clear and cold1 and ,marcus informed ,judy that it was cold enough ter freeze de bronze statoo down in de square4 ,they were to start at three1 and promptly at that hour ,marcus drew up at the door4 ,eager to start1 the girls were all waiting in the hall1 when ,arabella drawled3 ,every one wait while ,i go and get my shawls4 ,she darted up the stairs1 ,patricia calling after her3 ,your shawls1 goosie6 ,why you're wearing two coats and a sweater now4 ,what did ,arabella say8 asked ,betty ,chase4 ,i thought she said she wanted the shawl to put over her ears6 ,she did say that1 declared ,patricia1 and won't she look fine2 besides1 how could she get them on when twenty of us are packed into that sleigh8 ,oh1 ,i'll help her with them1 cried ,betty ,chase1 with a laugh4 ,so will ,i1 chimed in ,valerie4 ,here she comes now4 ,well1 as ,i live1 she has brought two shawls1 said ,betty4 ,one for each ear1 said ,valerie4 ,laughing and chattering they ran down the path1 and soon were comfortably seated1 very close to be sure1 but very warm4 ,arabella said that the two shawls were to wear later if it became colder1 whereat1 ,betty begged her to sit upon them4 ,you take up room enough for three with a big shawl under each arm1 said ,betty4 ,stand up and ,i'll fold them so you can sit on them4 ,arabella meekly did as she was told4 ,if any other girl had done the same thing1 she would have obstinately rebelled1 but ,betty had a way that was compelling1 and ,arabella1 after she was seated1 wondered why she had been so meek4 ,patricia ,levine had brought a big box of fudge1 and she now passed it around4 ,arabella said she knew it would make her sick1 but she took two pieces instead of one1 lest the box might not come around again4 ,the route took them over a long roadway that had been cut through a forest1 and on either side the great trees towered above them1 their branches heaped with snow4 ,the underbrush was beautified with what looked like patches of swan's-down1 and a tiny1 ice-bound brook wound its way in among the giant trees1 disappearing behind a clump of evergreens4 ,it had been possible to see all these things because the road had been so rough that ,marcus had been obliged to drive rather slowly4 ,now1 as they emerged from the wood-road1 he touched the whip to the flank of one of his horses1 and with one accord they sprang forward1 giving the chattering occupants of the sleigh a decided bounce1 and stopping ,elf ,carleton in the middle of the story that she was telling4 ,o dear6 ,where was ,i when that jolt came8 she asked4 ,i don't know what you were telling1 said ,vera1 but it's my turn now1 and ,i'm going to tell how awfully you acted this morning4 ,girls1 ,mrs4 ,marvin was perfectly lovely4 ,she just talked and talked about how good ,i ought to be1 but ,i didn't mind that1 so long as she didn't say she was going to send me home4 ,she never said a single word about that1 but ,i didn't know she was going to be such a perfect dear4 ,i woke before daylight1 and much comfort ,elf was to me6 ,i tell you truly1 girls1 ,i poked her1 ,i called to her1 ,i shook her1 but couldn't get her enough awake to say a word4 ,well1 we're about even1 for one morning last week when ,i kept telling her my tooth was aching1 she paid no attention until ,i gave her an outrageous poke1 and shouted into her ear1 ',my tooth aches6' ,she didn't open her eyes1 but what she said was a great comfort4 ,what did she say8 questioned ,betty4 ,she said it might stop aching if ,i kept my mouth closed1 said ,vera1 and it took me five minutes to realize that her advice was more for her benefit than mine4 ,she wanted another nap1 and closing my mouth to shield my aching tooth would also prevent my talking4 ,trust ,elf for making sure--,oh1 look1 girls6 ,every head turned4 ,a big red pung was coming toward them at top speed4 ,it was crowded with more boys than could be seated1 and those who stood carried long poles4 ,from the top of each pole a broad1 gayly colored streamer waved4 ,as the pung passed a big boy in the center shouted3 ,three cheers for the ,glenmore girls6 and they were given with a will4 ,how do they know that we are ,glenmore girls8 said ,elf4 ,three cheers for the ',what-you-call 'em' boys6 screamed ,betty1 and even ,arabella added a faint ,hurrah6 to the general clamor4 ,two of the boys produced a pair of cymbals1 but while they were clashing ,betty brought forth a huge gong and nearly stunned those near her with the noise that she made as with all her might she smote it4 ,hooray6 shouted a small boy4 ,hooraw6 howled ,valerie ,dare1 and no one could have decided which laughed the harder1 the pung-load of boys1 or the lively girls in the ,glenmore sleigh4 ,yo'-all behave like tomboys1 commented ,marcus4 ,lor'1 but ,mis' ,marvin would 'a' been some s'prised ef she'd been here ter hear ye carry on4 ,well1 if ,miss ,fenler had been here she'd have had forty fits1 cried ,vera ,vane1 but1 ,marcus1 what they don't know won't worry them1 and you needn't tell them4 ,and ,marcus1 you can forget all about the racket before you get home1 said ,elf4 ,shore1 ,miss1 ,i's got a powerful short mem'ry4 ,gid 'ap6 ,dorothy ,dainty cheered as loud as any of us1 said ,arabella ,correyville4 ,well1 why shouldn't she8 ,patricia asked4 ,oh1 she's always so--oh1 ,i don't know1--correct1 ,i guess is what ,i meant to say1 responded ,arabella4 ,i like fun as well as any one does1 said ,dorothy who had overheard the remark4 ,oh1 but ,dorothy1 you aren't even the least bit rude1 declared ,valerie4 ,it's not rude to cheer1 ,dorothy said with a laugh4 ,i think we were very polite to return their salute4 ,nancy ,ferris cheered1 too1 said a girl who had been very quiet during the hubbub4 ,nancy laughed4 ,i cheered because ,dorothy did1 she said1 but1 ,betty1 how did you get that gong in here without any one noticing it8 ,it was under this long coat1 said ,betty1 and ,i'll tell you all how ,i happened to bring it4 ,monday1 when ,i was down in the village1 ,i met a boy that ,i know1 and he told me that over at the boys' private school in the next town they'd heard about our sleigh-rides1 and he told me that one of the boys1 ,bob ,chandler1 had bought a pair of old cymbals at an antique shop4 ,they were planning their first sleigh-ride for the same day as ours1 and they thought we'd have no noise-maker with us4 ,i meant to get even with them1 so ,i brought the big gong that hung in my room1 and ,i guess we made as much noise as they did4 ,i've a number of curios that my uncle brought home from abroad4 ,why didn't ,i think to bring along that funny little horn8 ,you could have tooted on that1 ,valerie4 ,oh1 ,i'm satisfied4 ,we had noise enough1 said ,hilda ,fenton4 ,at that moment there was a commotion on the rear seat4 ,some one was twisting around so persistently that many were made quite uncomfortable4 ,dorothy turned to see what it was all about4 ,she laughed softly1 and touched ,nancy's arm4 ,it's ,arabella1 whispered ,dorothy4 ,yes1 and she's trying to put both shawls on at once1 said ,nancy4 ,oh1 quick6 ,see what ,patricia is doing4 ,completely out of patience with ,arabella's wriggling1 ,patricia was taking a vigorous hand4 ,in a manner anything but gentle she was pulling the heavy shawls up around ,arabella's head and shoulders4 ,betty ,chase said that she was yanking them1 and the word1 if not elegant1 was truthfully descriptive4 ,don't knock my hat off6 whimpered ,arabella4 ,i don't care what ,i do if only ,i get those old shawls onto you so you'll sit still6 declared ,patricia4 ,when ,arabella settled herself in her place she took a third more room than before1 and looked like a little old woman rolled up in many blankets4 ,arabella sat firm and immovable1 staring through her spectacles4 ,she did not turn to the right or the left1 and one would say that she did not know that the girls were laughing at her4 ,don't you wish you had just one more shawl8 said ,patricia4 ,not if ,i had to have you put it on1 drawled ,arabella4 ,you shoved my hat on one side of my head1 and it's felt queer ever since4 ,how do you know that the hat has felt queer8 ,valerie asked1 smothering a laugh4 ,i guess you'd feel queer if ,patricia ,levine had once taken hold of you1 was the quick response1 and ,valerie ceased teasing4 ,dorothy knows a jolly sleighing song1 said ,nancy4 ,sing it6 ,sing it6 ,oh1 please sing it1 ,dorothy1 clamored eager voices4 ,sing it with me1 ,nancy1 ,dorothy said4 ,your alto makes it fine4 ,their voices blended sweetly1 and the melody floated out on the crisp air1 so that a tall1 dark man left a wood road1 and stood listening as the sleigh sped past4 ,over the ice and snow we fly1 ,oh1 but our steeds have wings6 ,and their hoofs keep time ,with the glad bells chime1 ,for sleigh bells are merry things1 ,never a thought or care have we1 ,lessons are laid aside1 ,and we laugh and sing1 ,adding mirth and din ,to the joy of a winter's ride4 ,oh1 don't stop6 cried an eager voice4 ,isn't there another verse8 ,there are two other verses1 said ,dorothy but--,i've forgotten them4 ,then sing the one you do know4 ,it's worth hearing again6 ,again she sang it1 as gayly as before1 but for some reason1 ,nancy's voice trembled1 and ,dorothy turned to glance at her4 ,she saw that ,nancy's cheeks were white1 and her eyes wide as if with fear4 ,a moment before her cheeks had been rosy red where the sharp wind had kissed them4 ,what is it1 ,nancy8 ,dorothy whispered4 ,nancy shook her head1 but the hand that held ,dorothy's tightened with a nervous grip4 ,when the girls were once more chattering together1 ,nancy1 leaning toward ,dorothy1 whispered softly3 ,that dark man that stood near the woods watching us as we passed1--did you see him8 ,why1 yes1 whispered ,dorothy1 but-- then she understood ,nancy's fear4 ,why1 ,nancy dear1 your old ,uncle ,steve1 who stole you from us once1 is not living4 ,don't you remember that1 and besides1 that man didn't look the least bit like him4 ,that man looked just like ,bonfanti6 ,oh1--oo1 burst softly from ,dorothy's lips1 then she tried to comfort ,nancy4 ,but why should he be wandering through the woods here8 ,you've always said that he was a busy man1 and once you heard him say that he had never been out of ,new ,york ,city4 ,i know ,i did1 ,nancy said1 but ,i s'pose he could go somewhere else1 and oh1 ,dorothy that man looked just like him6 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,lost ,,necklace ,nancy strove to be as gay as before4 ,she told herself that the man certainly looked just like the old ballet-master1 ,bonfanti1 but that he might have been a very different person4 ,she did not wish the other girls to know that she had been uneasy or frightened1 and so busy had they been in watching people whom they passed1 laughing and talking1 that ,nancy's fright had passed unnoticed by all save one1 and that one was ,patricia ,levine1 ,patricia1 who seemed to see everything4 ,she delighted in seeing something not intended for her eyes1 and then how she would run to tell some one all about it6 ,patricia had noticed ,nancy's cheeks when they suddenly went white1 she had seen the look of fear in her eyes1 and she was wild with curiosity to know what it meant4 ,when they had started out ,nancy had thought that the ride could not last too long1 but the sight of the tall1 dark man at the edge of the forest had changed all that1 and when ,marcus drove in at the gateway of ,glenmore1 and drew up at the steps1 ,nancy was the first to spring out4 ,without stopping in the hall to talk over the ride with the others who had enjoyed it1 she bounded up the stairs1 and soon was in her room4 ,vera stopped ,dorothy to ask if ,nancy was ill4 ,no1 oh1 no6 ,dorothy answered1 as she followed ,nancy up the stairway4 ,vera's question1 and ,dorothy's hasty reply reached ,patricia's ears4 ,i'd like to know what it's all about1 she whispered1 and ,i mean to find out1 no matter how long it takes me4 ,it was strange how eagerly interested ,patricia always was in anything that did not concern her4 ,she did not know that a newsmonger is never respected1 nor did she know that no girl whose nature was refined would care to know other people's business4 ,nothing so delighted ,patricia1 as a bit of news that she could1 by hook or crook obtain1 and the added joy of running off to repeat it1 especially if she knew it should not be repeated1 was greater than she could have described4 ,dorothy1 when she reached their room1 found ,nancy sitting upon a low stool1 her hands loosely clasped1 her eyes downcast as if studying the pattern of the rug4 ,dorothy closed the door1 and then1 tossing her wraps upon the couch1 sat down1 ,turkish fashion1 on the rug beside her4 ,now1 ,nancy1 she said1 you're not to let that man you saw this afternoon make you so uneasy4 ,it couldn't have been ,professor ,bonfanti who taught you to dance1 and was so harsh with you4 ,why should he be out here1 walking through the woods at ,glenmore8 ,and even if really it had been ,bonfanti1 why would you be so frightened8 ,it was your old uncle who stole you from us1 and made you dance at the theaters to earn money for him4 ,bonfanti just taught you because your old ,uncle ,steve hired him to4 ,but ,dorothy1 you don't know how often he said1 while he was training me3 ',oh1 if ,i had you in my hands1 ,i could make you earn twice as much as ,ferris does6' ,when he said that he would look as eager as if he really saw the heaps of money that he thought he could make me earn for him4 ,i don't know which would be the worse to work for1 ,professor ,bonfanti or my old ,uncle ,steve1 but this ,i do know3 ,i hope no one will ever take me away from you1 ,dorothy6 ,and no one shall6 cried ,dorothy1 throwing her arms around ,nancy1 and holding her fast4 ,i wouldn't have been so frightened if it was just what ,i saw to-day1 but don't you know that just before we left the ,stone ,house1 ,i had a dream of being stolen4 ,i'd not thought of it for weeks1 but--well1 that man did look like the ballet-master4 99 99 99 99 99 ,patricia ,levine had enjoyed the sleigh-ride4 ,she had liked the clear1 bracing air2 she had liked being included in the list made out by ,mrs4 ,marvin for the first ride of the season1 but she had been annoyed by ,arabella4 ,she stood drumming on the window-pane1 and wondering how to begin the lecture that she intended to give ,arabella1 that is1 if ,arabella would ever get her wraps off1 and sit down4 ,she turned from the window4 ,well1 ,i never saw such a slowpoke6 she cried4 ,arabella blinked4 ,patricia thought she might as well begin1 if she wished to say all that was in her mind before dinner4 ,i certainly was provoked with you1 ,arabella1 this afternoon4 ,you looked just umbrageous with all those coats and shawls on1 said ,patricia4 ,i looked what8 ,arabella asked with a dull stare4 ,i said um-bra-geous6 cried ,patricia4 ,i don't know what that word means1 drawled ,arabella4 ,neither do ,i1 said ,patricia1 but ,i know that's the way you looked4 ,i can't unbutton this top button of my coat1 remarked ,arabella4 ,patricia jerked the button from the buttonhole1 and continued3 ,how do you s'pose ,i like to have you act so queer1 and then have the girls call you my 'chum'8 ,arabella instead of replying to the question remarked3 ,and the fringe on this shawl has caught on a hook on my dress so ,i can't get it off4 ,patricia's eyes were blazing4 ,she was so angry that she hardly knew what she was saying4 ,the idea6 ,you had on two coats and a sweater1 and as if that wasn't enough for any one girl to wear you went after two shawls4 ,when you got all those duds on you looked as big as an elegant6 ,a what6 gasped ,arabella4 ,i'm too tired to say it over again1 said ,patricia1 who now knew that she had made a funny error4 ,but1 persisted ,arabella1 you said ,i looked as-- ,it was no use to talk to the walls1 and ,patricia had rushed from the room1 banging the door behind her4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there were weeks at ,glenmore when everything went smoothly4 ,then there would come a week when it certainly seemed as if every one were doing her best to cause disturbance4 ,usually the fault might easily be traced to the pupils1 but there were times when ,miss ,fenler seemed as contrary as the most perverse pupil4 ,on those days no one could please her4 ,dorothy had little difficulty1 but ,vera1 ,elf1 ,betty1 and ,valerie were forever vexing her1 and ,patricia was never able to win her full approval4 ,as for ,arabella ,correyville1 ,miss ,fenler did not understand her1 and ,betty ,chase said that ,the ,fender fixed her sharp eyes upon ,arabella1 and appeared to be studying her as if she were a very small1 but very peculiar bug that she was unable to classify4 ,there was yet another pupil who puzzled her1 and1 for that matter1 puzzled the other pupils4 ,she was an old-fashioned little girl1 who was letter-perfect in all her studies1 but never brilliant1 more quiet than any other girl at ,glenmore1 and so silent that one marveled that a little girl could be so still4 ,always neatly1 but very plainly dressed1 she looked like a little ,puritan1 and acted like one1 as well4 ,and what a name the child possessed6 ,patience ,little1 and she lived up to it4 ,do you think she'd jump if a fire-cracker went off behind her8 questioned ,valerie1 one day4 ,no1 indeed1 she would not1 said ,elf1 who stood near4 ,i don't believe she would so much as turn around to look at it4 ,she's spunkless4 ,but they were mistaken4 ,among themselves they spoke of her as ,little ,patience4 ,once ,betty ,chase told her that she knew a girl whose name was ,patience1 who was always called ,patty4 ,my family does not like nicknames1 was the reply in a low voice1 as she turned away4 ,the day after the sleigh-ride1 ,lina ,danford1 one of the youngest pupils1 came rushing down the stairway in great excitement4 ,my amber necklace has been stolen6 ,girls6 ,do you hear8 ,my amber beads are gone6 ,some one has been in my room and stolen them6 ,somebody ought to catch the burglar6 ,dorothy1 standing near1 put an arm around her1 and tried to comfort her4 ,don't say it is gone1 ,lina1 dear6 ,it may be just mislaid4 ,if you like1 ,nancy and ,i will go up with you1 and help you hunt1 but ,lina was not easily to be comforted4 ,she insisted that the beads had been stolen1 and that1 therefore1 it was idle to search4 ,patience ,little1 for the first time1 showed a bit of interest4 ,she was crossing the hall when ,lina raced down the stairs1 and she actually paused to listen to what the little girl had to say4 ,she said nothing1 and after a moment1 she went up-stairs4 ,she forgot to close her door1 and going over to her dresser1 opened its upper drawer4 ,from a velvet case she drew forth a smaller velvet case1 which1 when she touched a clasp1 sprang open1 displaying a handsome string of amber beads4 ,she held them up so that the light might play through them4 ,i never wear them1 she said softly1 but ,i've liked looking at them4 ,aunt ,millicent gave them to me1 and maybe ,i'd like to wear them sometime1 but1 she continued1 ,i'll not be selfish and keep them for some time4 ,i'll give them to ,lina1 in place of those that she has lost4 ,hurrying along the upper hall1 ,lina was surprised to see that the next door that she would pass1 stood open4 ,she was about to pass it1 when on glancing toward it1 she saw ,patience standing before the glass1 turning this way and that so as to get a better light on the amber necklace that she wore4 ,with a little cry1 ,lina sprang into the room4 ,patience turned1 and was about to speak1 but before she could say a word1 ,lina shouted3 ,that's my necklace6 ,i knew somebody had taken it1 but ,i never dreamed it was a ,glenmore girl who did it4 ,i thought it was a burglar4 ,give it to me this minute6 ,this necklace is mine6 returned the accused girl excitedly4 ,her eyes flashed1 she quivered with anger4 ,no one would have believed that the girl who always appeared calm1 and rarely spoke1 unless spoken to1 could show such fire4 ,one could not guess how the scene would have ended1 but just at that moment a slight sound made both girls turn4 ,there in the doorway stood ,mrs4 ,marvin4 ,i am very sorry to see anything so rude1 so unkind1 and so unjust1 she said4 ,you were hopelessly rude to rush into another girl's room and accuse her1 even if she were at fault4 ,you were unkind1 because you spoke as harshly as possible1 and you were unjust1 because here in my hand ,i have your own amber beads that one of the maids has just found4 ,you must apologize at once1 ask ,patience if she will forgive you1 and in your own room1 try to think of some kind way to make amends4 ,lina was crying now4 ,illustration3 ,,this ,,necklace ,,is ,,mine6 ,,returned ,,the ,,accused ,,girl ,,excitedly4--,page #aaa4 ,oh1 ,i'm so sorry4 ,why do ,i never think before ,i say horrid things8 ,forgive me1 ,patience1 if you can4 ,i'll gladly do anything for you4 ,then the surprise came4 ,patience1 the silent1 shy girl1 threw her arms about the younger girl1 and held her close4 ,the necklace that ,i have on was given to me by ,aunt ,millicent4 ,i've never worn it4 ,it is beautiful1 but ,i like quiet colors4 ,the showy things are prettier for other girls1 ,i think4 ,i heard ,lina say that she had lost hers1 and ,i was just thinking that ,i would give mine to her1 when she rushed in1 and--,i hadn't a chance to tell her4 ,that's all1 she said simply4 ,oh1 ,i was worse even than ,i thought1 cried ,lina1 and to think1 ,mrs4 ,marvin1 that she was planning to give her necklace to me6 ,promise me1 ,lina1 that after this you will be less quick to accuse4 ,indeed ,i will1 and ,patience1 if you'll let me1 ,i'd like to be your friend4 ,i'm sometimes lonely4 ,i need you1 ,lina1 ,patience said1 gently4 ,lina never did anything by halves4 ,she told her classmates how just at the time that ,patience had been planning to give her own necklace to make up for ,lina's loss1 she had been harshly accused4 ,she told how sweetly forgiving ,patience had been1 and wound up by stating that hereafter they were to be chums4 ,mrs4 ,marvin1 on the way to her own apartment1 vaguely wondered what the next happening would be4 ,i wonder if the entire week is to be a series of disturbances1 she thought4 ,to be sure1 there are but two days more1 ,friday and ,saturday1 but ,i should not be surprised if some one started something1 so as to make the week complete4 ,it certainly had been a record week for petty annoyances1 and to cap the climax on ,friday1 after lunch1 ,miss ,fenler waited in the hall1 near the door that led from the dining-room4 ,she felt that she must speak to ,patricia4 ,as a rule pupils were1 of course1 permitted to dress as they chose1 but it seemed as if ,patricia was actually trying to see how strange a rig she could wear and yet go unreproved4 ,on this day1 she had done the oddest thing of all4 ,she had tied her hair on the crown of her head with a yellow ribbon4 ,the ribbon was very wide1 and the bow was enormous4 ,as if that were not enough she had taken equally wide ribbon1 of pink1 and of blue1 had tied a large bow of each and then had pinned the pink bow to the right loop of the yellow bow1 the blue bow to the left loop1 and when she entered the dining-room the effect was1 to say the least1 amazing6 ,the bows were about eight inches wide4 ,really1 ,patricia was a droll sight6 ,unless she were spoken to she would wear her freakish ribbons at the afternoon session4 ,when lunch was over1 and the pupils came trooping out into the hall1 ,miss ,fenler spoke to ,patricia4 ,when they at last stood alone in one corner of the hall1 ,miss ,fenler mentioned the gaudy colors1 and said that while the girls were permitted to wear as bright ribbons as they chose1 they would certainly not be allowed to wear three huge bows at a time4 ,the idea6 said ,patricia4 ,well1 ,i guess ,i'll not agree to wear little stingy-looking bows for any one4 ,you would obstruct the view of the large blackboard1 said ,miss ,fenler4 ,no one could see around your head4 ,i shall wear these bows ,i have on or none at all6 said ,patricia4 ,don't be obstinate1 said ,miss ,fenler4 ,mrs4 ,marvin told me to speak to you4 ,did she say ,i couldn't wear these big bows8 ,patricia asked1 her eyes black with anger4 ,she certainly did1 declared ,miss ,fenler4 ,well1 you can tell her ,i wear these or none at all1 ,patricia said1 stoutly4 ,none at all6 repeated ,miss ,fenler4 ,don't attempt to come into the class-room with your long hair untidy4 ,without a ribbon it would look slovenly4 ,patricia's smile was broad1 and her eyes actually impish as she left the hall4 ,she's equal to pinning on a half-dozen extra bows if she chooses1 ,miss ,fenler said1 under her breath4 ,glenmore1 once a private estate1 looked like an old castle1 and the dwellings that were its nearest neighbors were owned by old and wealthy residents4 ,no stores had ever broken the charm of the locality1 and the sleepy old town had supposed that they never would1 yet around the corner of a little back street1 an enterprising ,italian had purchased a wee cottage4 ,after three days a sign appeared in his front window4 ,it stunned the residents4 ,it read3 ,,antonio ,,carana1 ,,barber ,,and ,,hairdresser4 ,already small boys and girls might be seen1 in charge of maids1 trotting up his steps with long curls1 and after a few minutes1 appearing with a ,dutch cut4 ,patricia1 buttoning her coat as she ran1 appeared at his door breathless1 but eager4 ,i want my hair bobbed1 and ,i must have it done right off1 or ,i'll be late to school1 she cried1 rushing past the astonished ,tony1 and mounting his big chair4 ,dutch cut6 she demanded1 thinking that he had not understood her4 ,cutta da long hair8 he asked1 lifting the strands4 ,sure1 cried ,patricia1 ,what else would ,i want cut off8 ,certainly not my nose4 ,alla right1 said ,tony1 but he thought it strange1 and wondered if the little girl's mother would appear at any moment1 angry1 and vengeful4 ,patricia's temper had been gradually cooling1 and now1 as she saw the long locks that ,tony had clipped1 she was desperately sorry that she had come4 ,it was half done1 however1 so she could not back out4 ,one does not care to appear with the right side of one's head with short hair1 and the left side with hair half-way toward one's girdle6 ,patricia sighed1 and allowed him to continue4 ,what else could she do8 ,she had been proud of her hair1 but when she saw herself in the mirror1 her vanity came to her aid4 ,she had given up her fine head of hair1 but look6 ,here was another chance to make a sensation4 ,not a girl at school had her hair bobbed4 ,probably they'll tell me that only very little girls have their hair like this1 but ,i don't care4 ,they'll be surprised1 and it's the only way ,i can go without ribbons1 and ,i said ,i'd wear big bows or nothing4 ,of course the pupils stared when ,patricia appeared in the class-room1 and that delighted her4 ,i guess my ,dutch cut made more show than my ribbons would have1 she whispered4 ,making a show was about all that ,patricia cared for1 the only other thing that she appeared to think worth while was meddling in other people's affairs4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,when ,,nancy ,,danced ,mrs4 ,marvin decided to make the weekly socials very different from what they had been4 ,it had been her custom to hire musicians from the city to give a little recital1 and then serve light refreshments1 and allow the latter part of the evening to be spent in indoor games1 or dancing4 ,the social part of the evening was always enjoyed1 but many of the musicians1 both vocal and instrumental1 had given selections of so strictly classical character that some of the pupils complained that they did not care for it4 ,she determined to ask three pupils to arrange a program for each evening1 each of the three being expected to take part in the entertainment4 ,one ,monday morning she unfolded her plan1 and announced that on ,friday of that week would occur the first social having a pupils' program4 ,i have asked ,dorothy ,dainty to take charge of the little recital1 and ,i believe we shall enjoy it4 ,when the eager applause had subsided1 ,mrs4 ,marvin continued3 ,the girl in charge of the entertainment must not be annoyed with questions as to the program because ,i wish the entertainment each week to be a surprise4 ,dorothy1 herself must contribute one or two numbers1 and ,i have appointed ,nancy ,ferris1 and ,patricia ,levine to help her4 ,the pupils were wild with curiosity as to what the numbers were to be1 but while a few hinted that they were eager to know just what they were to hear and see1 they did not ask ,dorothy to tell them4 ,they thought it would be more fun to be surprised4 ,dorothy found herself in an awkward place4 ,she had decided to sing a pretty waltz song1 for which ,nancy played the accompaniment4 ,nancy had at first thought of playing a piano duet with ,dorothy1 but ,dorothy pointed out that a number of the girls1 when it came their turn to entertain1 would surely play1 and she urged ,nancy to do a fine solo dance4 ,it will be more of a treat1 she urged1 and ,nancy agreed4 ,patricia declared that she had studied with a fine vocal instructor since they had heard her1 and she also stated that she would sing a solo1 or nothing4 ,patricia1 when at ,merrivale private school with ,dorothy and ,nancy1 had done some very funny singing1 and ,dorothy felt a bit nervous as to what she would do now1 but ,patricia insisted that she had rapidly improved1 and there seemed to be no choice but to let her sing4 ,do make her tell you what she's going to sing1 ,nancy said1 one morning1 because if she has chosen something you wouldn't like to have her sing1 you might be able to coax her to change it4 ,dorothy promised to question ,patricia1 but she laughed at the idea of being able to make ,patricia change her mind after she had decided what she should do4 ,what am ,i to sing8 said ,patricia1 when at recess ,dorothy questioned her4 ,i'm going to sing something from grand opera4 ,it's called3 ',i dreampt that ,i dwelt in marble halls1' and my teacher coached me on it1 and he said ,i sang it just as it should be sung4 ,if her teacher said that she sang it well1 perhaps it will be all right1 ,dorothy said1 but even as she said it she wondered just what ,patricia would do4 ,patricia might do anything4 ,dorothy took the time to practice when all of the pupils were out of doors at recess4 ,she did not wish them to hear her song until she should sing it for them at the social4 ,nancy practiced her solo at early morning4 ,mrs4 ,marvin had given her permission to practice in their reception hall when she learned at what an early hour ,nancy was willing to rise in order to do it4 ,patricia declared it entirely needless for her to practice1 thus making ,dorothy still more uneasy as to her performance4 ,at last the evening arrived4 ,dorothy had told herself that if1 after all1 ,patricia did anything as queer as she had been known to do1 worrying beforehand would not mend matters4 ,she knew if she became nervous regarding ,patricia1 she could not do her own solo well4 ,patricia had asked that her number might be the last on the program1 and ,dorothy had agreed4 ,as ,patricia usually wished to be first in anything1 and was offended if not given precedence1 it certainly looked as if she were planning to have her solo the crowning event of the evening4 ,soon after seven a buzz of voices told ,dorothy that the pupils had assembled early1 and she would have joined them1 but ,mrs4 ,marvin had said that each of the soloists must be announced1 and must come onto the stage1 and greet her audience as if she were a professional4 ,all had been carefully arranged1 and ,vera ,vane was to announce each performer4 ,dorothy had chosen a light-blue dress1 her pumps and hose of the same shade4 ,the dress was charming1 because of its lovely coloring1 and its graceful lines4 ,very clearly ,vera announced3 ,the first number to-night will be a waltz song by ,dorothy ,dainty4 ,dorothy's voice had been carefully trained1 and very sweetly she sang1 one especial charm being that every word could be clearly heard1 which is more than can be said of many singers who have studied for years4 ,she had chosen ,asphodel's ,song4 ,how sweet was the voice1 how happy her smile as she sang3 ,oh1 how lovely are my flowers ,in the morning wet with dew1 ,ah1 they courtesy to the morning ,off'ring gifts of fragrance new4 ,then the sound of bird wings whirring ,wake again the drowsy trees1 ,and the tiny brooks are stirring1 ,running onward to the sea4 ,oh1 how lovely are my flowers ,when the twilight shadows creep1 ,hosts of fairy folks come trooping1 ,where my flowers lie asleep4 ,surely no singer was ever more graciously received4 ,there were to be no encores because of limited time4 ,lights were usually out at nine-thirty1 but the socials were from eight to ten4 ,the concert must be brief to allow sufficient time afterward for games4 ,the next number will be a dance by ,nancy ,ferris4 ,nancy had stood in the upper hall1 ready1 when she heard her name called to enter4 ,here and there a tiny spangle caught the light1 and the soft pink of her dress was repeated in her cheeks4 ,she was happy4 ,she was going to give pleasure4 ,as she heard her name called1 she bounded down the stairway1 across the hall1 and up on the stage1 looking far smaller than in her usual school dress4 ,the pupils were spellbound4 ,nancy had said nothing of her dancing nor had she spoken of having been a tiny performer at the theaters4 ,now as they saw her whirling on the tips of her toes1 dipping1 swaying1 doing steps of wondrous grace1 they marveled at the skill with which she did it4 ,at home1 at the ,stone ,house1 ,dorothy had often played for her1 but to-night she seemed to out-do herself4 ,nancy swung forward1 then with cunning steps retreated1 crossed her feet and did the pretty rocking-step1 whirled again1 and yet again1 did the pirouette to left1 then to right1 made a very low courtesy1 and ran off the stage1 followed by tremendous clapping4 ,how they wished that she might have repeated the lovely dance6 ,mrs4 ,marvin closely watched the nimble feet and determined to know something more about the charming little dancer4 ,and now--,dorothy wondered just what the next number would be4 ,she took a long breath when1 as ,vera announced her1 ,patricia entered simply attired1 wearing a pretty white dress1 with a pale yellow sash1 no other color4 ,it was remarkable to see ,patricia without at least six colors4 ,perhaps she'll sing well1 ,dorothy said to herself1 for the lovely song that she chose for her number couldn't be twisted into anything funny4 ,was that really so1 or was ,dorothy trying to think so8 ,was there anything that ,patricia could not twist if she chose8 ,the charming old song is very sweet when properly sung1 and the words fit the melody4 ,i dreampt that ,i dwelt in marble halls1 ,with vassals and serfs at my side1 ,and of all who assembled within those walls1 ,that ,i was the joy and the pride4 ,i had riches too great to count1 could boast ,of a high ancestral name1 ,but ,i also dreampt1 and that charmed me most1 ,that you loved me just the same4 ,so runs the first verse1 but ,patricia had never seen the music4 ,she had heard the song a number of times1 and felt competent to sing it4 ,dorothy had asked her to practice it1 then had offered to loan her the music1 but ,patricia declared that she needed neither practice1 nor the use of the music4 ,are you sure you know the words8 ,nancy had asked4 ,of course6 ,patricia had said sharply4 ,nancy played the prelude1 and ,patricia sang4 ,sang with all her might1 one might say1 but oh1 the words as she sang them6 ,she had caught them as they sounded1 giving never a thought as to whether they made sense4 ,i dre-eampt that ,i dwe-e-lt in mar-ar-ble halls ,with vessels and safes at my side4 ,and of all who had stumbled within those walls ,that ,i was the joke1 and the bride1 ,i had witches to mate and count1 could boast ,of a high and central name ,but ,i also dreampt1 and that jarred me most1 ,that ,jew loved me just the same4 ,was it strange that roars of laughter greeted the song8 ,even ,mrs4 ,marvin1 a model of all that was well-bred1 covered her eyes for a moment with her handkerchief1 but when she removed it1 the eyes were twinkling and it was evident that only her self-control kept her from laughing aloud4 ,dorothy's first thought was for ,patricia4 ,she knew it must be dreadful to be laughed at1 and she was hoping that ,patricia might not be too badly hurt4 ,she would draw her into the games later in the evening1 and thus cheer her4 ,it happened that ,patricia needed no cheering4 ,she was disgusted1 but not hurt4 ,she believed herself to be a very fine singer1 and thought that the only reason for laughter was that her audience was dull1 so dull indeed that her romantic selection had been mistaken for a comic song4 ,the idea of thinking that song funny enough to laugh at6 ,why it is not a comic song at all4 ,there's nothing funny about it6 she declared4 ,it really doesn't pay to sing for folks here4 ,they can't understand what you are doing6 ,the next time ,i sing1 ,i'll sing for my friends in ,n',york4 ,dorothy was puzzled for a second1 then1 as she saw that ,patricia really meant what she said1 she was thankful that the laughter had not been understood by the silly little singer4 ,patricia had actually thought that they were foolishly amused by the song4 ,it had been quite another thing that annoyed ,patricia1 and that was the evident pleasure that ,nancy's dancing had given1 and on the day after the social1 she was vexed to have to hear the other girls talking about it4 ,i'd think you never saw any one dance before1 she said1 when ,betty ,chase said that ,nancy's dancing was simply lovely4 ,well1 ,i never did see a girl dance like that1 said ,betty4 ,well1 she ought to dance4 ,she's had enough training1 besides she used to dance on the stage4 ,who couldn't dance if they had a chance like that8 ,a whole lot of people couldn't1 said ,betty1 sharply4 ,i couldn't for one1 and ,i guess there are a few others4 ,do you mean me8 ,patricia asked1 sharply1 her eyes flashing4 ,i mean any one silly enough to say that ,nancy's dancing was anything but wonderful1 ,betty said1 and she turned to ,valerie1 leaving ,patricia to talk to herself1 or to no one1 if she chose4 ,patricia had hoped to lessen interest in ,nancy1 but what she had said had had an opposite effect4 ,it had increased their already lively interest to such an extent that many who had not yet met her were wild to know her1 and those who already were her friends were eager to question her as to her career4 ,they longed to hear all about her training1 her first appearance at the theater1 and countless questions they wanted to ask her4 ,patricia had made ,nancy more popular than before4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,a ,,bit ,,of ,,spite ,for several days ,patricia was so busy thinking1 that ,arabella felt rather lonely4 ,arabella had been writing a letter to her ,aunt ,matilda1 and endeavoring to answer all the questions that that peculiar woman had asked4 ,it had occupied her spare time for two days1 and was not yet ready to mail4 ,o dear6 sighed ,arabella1 ,i don't like to write letters4 ,don't write them1 ,patricia advised4 ,why1 ,patricia ,levine6 ,you know if ,i didn't answer ,aunt ,matilda's letter she'd pack her suit-case1 and come right here6 ,good gracious6 ,hurry up and finish it1 cried ,patricia4 ,i wouldn't want her coming here4 ,i've got a cold1 so ,i couldn't go out to mail it1 drawled ,arabella4 ,don't let that stop you1 cried ,patricia1 for ,i'll gladly go out to mail it for you1 if it'll keep your ,aunt ,matilda away4 ,later1 when ,patricia went down the hall on the way to post the letter1 she saw that ,dorothy's door was slightly ajar4 ,of course ,patricia's sharp eyes saw it1 and1 because she never could resist the temptation to listen1 where she might hear something not intended for her ears1 she paused4 ,nancy was speaking of the man that she had seen standing at the edge of the forest1 on the day of the sleigh-ride4 ,again she told ,dorothy how it had frightened her1 adding3 ,he looked just like ,bonfanti1 the ballet-teacher1 and ,i believe if ,i should look from our window and see him out there1 looking toward this house1 ,i'd not dare to go out for days4 ,dorothy tried to comfort her1 by saying3 ,but1 ,nancy dear1 we've not seen him since that day1 and he's miles away from here by this time1 as likely as not4 ,patricia needed to hear no more4 ,she could not make ,nancy less popular1 but here was a fine chance for annoying her4 ,it was strange what pleasure it afforded ,patricia to make others unhappy6 ,she never seemed to know that in striving to annoy others1 she was constantly proving that she herself was disagreeable4 ,she hastened out to the nearest mail box with the letter1 and then returning to her room1 sat down to think4 ,i wish you'd talk1 said ,arabella4 ,it's awful dull this cloudy afternoon4 ,patricia was in no mood for talking1 and ,arabella dared not insist4 ,it was after dinner when the pupils met in the cheery reception-hall for a little chat before going to their rooms1 that ,patricia saw her chance1 and took it4 ,some one asked ,nancy if she and ,dorothy had been out for their usual walk4 ,it seemed a bit raw1 she replied1 so we remained in4 ,patricia1 who had been moving nearer1 now stood at ,nancy's elbow4 ,did you notice a big1 dark man1 this morning looking up toward your window8 she asked3 ,do you know who he is8 ,we saw him the day of the sleigh-ride1 and that was weeks ago4 ,i believe he is always right around here1 for ,i don't know how many times ,i have seen him4 ,he always simply stares toward your windows4 ,i thought perhaps you knew him4 ,nancy turned pale1 and ,mrs4 ,marvin1 who was near them1 saw ,dorothy draw ,nancy closer as if to protect her4 ,is ,nancy ill8 she asked kindly4 ,patricia had left the hall when she saw ,mrs4 ,marvin speaking to ,dorothy4 ,dorothy explained how frightened ,nancy had been ever since the sleigh-ride1 a few weeks before4 ,come into my apartment and tell me all about this4 ,i am greatly interested1 she said4 ,they were only too glad to escape the curious eyes that now were watching them1 and together they told ,mrs4 ,marvin the story of ,nancy's career4 ,when they reached the point where ,patricia had told them of the man who had stood looking up at their windows that afternoon1 a look of relief passed over her face1 and she actually laughed4 ,you two dear little friends may rest easy to-night1 she said1 for the man whom you saw at the edge of the woods1 and the man who was here to-day1 looking up at your windows1 as ,patricia said1 are one and the same person4 ,he is a man who has made a study of all plant life1 and especially wise is he in regard to vines and trees4 ,to-day he was trying to decide just what sort of vine would thrive best on this sunny side of the house4 ,his name is not nearly so picturesque as ,bonfanti4 ,it is ,jonathan ,scroggs4 ,not a fine name1 surely1 but his name has never hindered him in his profession4 ,he is one of the best florists in the country1 he knows all about beautiful vines and trees1 and he is also a landscape gardener4 ,he can take a plain little cottage1 with a small piece of land1 and plant just the right kind of trees on the place1 train vines over the porch so as to render it charming1 and make the bit of land into a tiny park1 so dainty1 so altogether lovely that people will come from far and near to see the 'beauty spot4' ,now do you care in the least what his name is8 ,indeed ,i do not1 ,dorothy said1 firmly4 ,and oh1 how glad ,i am that he is not ,professor ,bonfanti6 ,nancy said4 ,it was silly to be so frightened1 but if only you knew how hard those months were when he was training me1 and old ,uncle ,steve was threatening all sorts of things if ,i did not dance well6 ,you see1 ,i was really ill with fear1 and homesickness1 and ,uncle ,steve did not seem to see that the more he threatened1 the more ill ,i became4 ,oh1 if ,i should talk all day1 ,i could not tell you half the misery of those days4 ,only yesterday one of the girls said that she would not have minded any of the harsh things if only she could have danced on the stage4 ,that is what she thinks1 but she doesn't know6 ,well1 ,nancy1 to-day you are nervous and tired1 but ,i have quieted all your fears1 and assured you that you are safe here at ,glenmore4 ,some day when we can arrange it1 ,i would enjoy hearing more of your little career4 ,and ,i'd be willing to tell you1 ,mrs4 ,marvin2 you've been so kind1 and you've comforted me4 ,i shall sleep to-night without any horrid dreams4 ,mrs4 ,marvin felt that ,patricia had really intended to frighten ,nancy1 and she decided to have a quiet little talk with her1 and if possible1 learn what had prompted her to do so unkind a thing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was an odd combination that ,glenmore1 one of the best of schools for girls in the country1 modern in every respect1 and absolutely up-to-date1 should be situated in a town that was quaint1 and picturesque1 with inhabitants as fanciful1 and superstitious as one would find if he had traveled back a century4 ,true1 there were residents who had recently come to the place for a summer home1 but the old people of the place clung to their old time superstitions1 their firm belief in signs1 their legends handed down from one generation to another1 and the newcomers humored them1 listened to their yarns1 and asked to hear more4 ,many of these stories were quite as interesting as any folk tales1 and none could tell them with finer effect than old ,cornelia ,derby4 ,it was ,marcus who had pointed her out to several of the girls who1 one morning1 chanced to be standing near the gate as the old woman came up the street4 ,oh1 ,marcus1 do you really mean that she can tell all sorts of quaint stories about this old town8 cried ,betty ,chase4 ,i sure does1 said ,marcus1 and 'nuffin' pleases her like gittin' a chance ter tell 'em ter folks as is willin' ter listen4 ,now1 ,valerie1 said ,betty1 turning to her chum1 let's get her to tell us some of the stories she knows about the fine old houses1 and the people that once lived in them4 ,fine6 cried ,valerie1 but where would we find her8 ,she lives in a little old hut1 'round behin' the hill over there6 said ,marcus1 an' all yo' has ter do is ter go up dis street1 an' yo'll sure spot it1 long 'fore yo' reach it1 'cause the top half er dat hut is red1 an' the bottom half is whitewash4 ,it sure looks mighty quare6 ,let's take a walk over there to-morrow1 when our lessons are prepared1 said ,valerie1 but1 she added1 ,i hope we find it4 ,yo' couldn't miss it1 said ,marcus1 for all yo' has ter do is ter go up dis street1 an' turn ter yo' left1 den go a piece1 an' turn ter yo' right1 an' walk 'til yo' come ter a big yaller house1 an' dat's 'bout half-way4 ,nex' yo' cross a field1 skip over de place where de brook is in summer an' come ter a piece er wall1 stone wall1 'tis1 an' it don't seem ter b'long ter no place 'tall1 an' de hut is jes' a little ways beyond4 ,the sound of a bell sent them hurrying toward the house4 ,do you expect to remember all that8 ,valerie asked on the way to the class-room4 ,if you do you'll be a wonder4 ,i've forgotten it now4 ,betty nodded confidently4 ,we'll go over there to-morrow1 she said4 ,the next afternoon1 ,betty helped ,valerie with some puzzling problems that must be solved before starting out4 ,then with confidence on ,betty's part1 and much doubt in ,valerie's mind as to their ability to find the hut1 they set off on the long walk4 ,after twice enquiring of people whom they met1 of taking a long walk in the wrong direction1 and retracing their steps1 they finally espied the piece of stone wall that seemed to belong to no place at all1 as ,marcus had said4 ,glad to rest1 they paused there to look about them1 and to wait for ,vera and ,elf1 who had promised to meet them4 ,neither was in sight1 although they had said that they would be prompt4 ,snow and ice had fled1 and now everywhere were signs of spring4 ,vera had declared that the long walk was what she needed1 and ,elf had said that she would endure the walk for the sake of hearing the quaint stories of the town and its people that old ,cornelia would tell4 ,at the end of the wall ,betty and ,valerie waited4 ,i'd not wait much longer1 ,valerie said4 ,i surely will not6 ,betty replied1 for if they are coming1 they'll be here in a few minutes4 ,it was evident that the two girls had1 for some reason1 been detained1 and ,betty determined to wait no longer4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,wall ,,betty ,,and ,,valerie ,,waited4--,page #aej4 ,come6 she cried4 ,we'll go on now to the little hut1 and if ,vera and ,elf come poking along a half-hour later1 they can just sit on this wall1 and see if they enjoy waiting as well as we did4 ,it was but a short distance1 and they ran part of the way to make up for lost time1 but when they reached the gate they found1 as ,valerie glanced at her tiny watch1 that it was later than they thought1 and was already about time for them to turn toward ,glenmore1 if they did not wish to be late4 ,hours were strictly kept at the school1 and all pupils must return from recreation in time to give themselves personal care1 and be in the lower hall at five-thirty for a friendly chat before going to the dining-room at six4 ,mrs4 ,marvin insisted that every pupil look her best at all times4 ,it was now four o'clock4 ,it would take a half-hour to reach ,glenmore4 ,that meant that not more than a half-hour could be spent at the hut4 ,there was no answer to their repeated knocking1 but as they turned to go they saw old ,cornelia coming toward them along the road1 a big basket on her arm4 ,well1 well1 two fine little callers ,i find waiting for me1 she said4 ,and what can ,i do for you8 ,we wanted you to tell us all about some of the old buildings and the interesting stories about the people who lived in them1 said ,betty1 but it's so late now that ,i don't believe there's time4 ,we have to be back at ,glenmore at five4 ,then sit right down here on my garden-seat and ,i'll tell you the shortest tale ,i know1 and some other day if you come when you have more time ,i'll tell you more4 ,oh1 that will be fine6 they cried1 as with one voice4 ,how would you like to hear about the wishing-well8 ,that sounds great6 declared ,betty and then3 ,could you begin it with ',once upon a time8' ,surely1 was the quick response1 and now ,i think of it1 ,i'm sure you must have passed the old wishing-well on your way here4 ,the old well was supposed to have magic power1 and long ago when the old ,paxton ,house was standing1 people came1 for miles around1 to be near the old well in the garden1 and wish for their heart's desire1 feeling sure that their wish would be granted4 ,of course the idea was absurd1 but the townspeople of those days were superstitious1 so that if those things that they wished for beside the well never came to them1 they thought that they must have forgotten to ask for them in the right way1 and later they would try again4 ,if they obtained the thing that they had wished for1 they laid their good fortune entirely to the fact that the old well must have approved of them4 ,and where is it6 ,valerie asked4 ,you said that we must have passed it4 ,the old well has a flat wooden cover over it now1 with an iron bar to keep it in place1 lest some one be careless and fall in1 though now the wild blackberry vines have nearly hidden it from sight4 ,even now when only young leaves are on the brambles1 the thorny stems make a network over the cover4 ,the old ,paxton ,house was gone before my time1 ,mrs4 ,derby said1 but a part of its fine wall remains4 ,it was upon that wall that the wishers sat4 ,did you happen to notice a fine piece of wall that seemed to belong to no one at all1 and ended in a broad field8 ,the idea6 cried ,betty4 ,why we sat on that piece of wall1 and could have 'wished' just as well as not1 if only we'd known it4 ,and it's almost half-past four now1 said ,valerie4 ,s'pose we run along toward ,glenmore1 and stop just long enough to sit on the wall and wish4 ,we can be on time at five1 if we do that4 ,then we could come over some day when we've more time1 and hear all about the well1 and other stories1 too4 ,it was a good idea1 because it was already so late that they could remain but a few moments longer1 so with an urgent invitation to come again1 and a promise to do so1 they ran back to the old wall1 looking back to wave their hands to the little woman who waved in return4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,wishing-,,well ,isn't it funny to think that we stopped at the very place to wish1 and never knew it8 said ,valerie1 as they ran along the foot path that would take them back1 the shortest way to the wall1 and the wishing-well4 ,not so 'funny' as that we'd take so much time and trouble to wish when we get there1 said ,betty4 ,why is it odd8 ,valerie asked1 stopping squarely in front of ,betty1 and looking at her with round eyes4 ,oh1 because we're acting exactly as if we believed in the old well1 ,betty said1 looking a bit annoyed1 yet keeping straight on toward the wall4 ,well1 of course we're not so silly as to really and truly believe it could grant our wishes1 but it's no harm to try1 responded ,valerie4 ,betty laughed4 ,oh1 we don't believe it all1 ,yet we must believe a little ,we b'lieve the water boils ,when the steam comes from the kittle4 ,it's dark inside the drum1 ,yet we hear the drumming well1 ,but that we wished beside the wall ,we'll never1 never tell4 ,where did you hear those verses8 ,valerie asked4 ,that's a funny song my brother sings4 ,i made the second verse to fit to-day4 ,why1 ,betty ,chase6 ,who'd think you could make poetry8 cried ,valerie1 looking ,betty over1 as if it were the first time she had ever seen her4 ,betty laughed gayly4 ,i guess ,mrs4 ,marvin would tell you it wasn't poetry4 ,don't you remember she told us the other day that many people could write verses1 but that verses were not always poetry8 ,well1 all the same1 ,i like the funny verses1 ,valerie said1 and here we are at the wall again4 ,and here's luck to us1 and our wishing6 cried ,betty4 ,she sprang up on the wall beside ,valerie1 and for a moment the two sat thinking4 ,it was ,valerie who first spoke4 ,i've been trying to think what to wish for1 she said1 and now all at once ,i know4 ,mother told me to work hard this year1 so as to stand high in my class1 and ,aunt ,phyllis said if ,i could finish in ,june with ninety per cent4 average she'd give me a beautiful ring4 ,yes1 that's what ,i'll wish for by the old well1 and after ,i've wished it1 ,i'll work harder than ever so that my wish will come true4 ,well1 why do you laugh8 she asked1 looking not only amazed1 but rather vexed at ,betty1 who could not stop laughing even when she saw that ,valerie was far from thinking it a joke4 ,well1 what have ,i said that is so awfully funny8 she asked sharply4 ,don't be provoked1 ,valerie1 ,betty said1 but her shoulders shook although she tried to check her laughter4 ,i was only thinking1 she continued1 how generous you were to help the old well out so nicely4 ,just as soon as you've wished1 you'll start right out to work hard enough to just make the wish come true1 well or no well1 and ,i do believe1 if your aunt gives you the ring1 you'll forget how hard you worked1 and you'll be saying3 ',i do more than half believe in the wishing-well6' ,valerie was never long angry1 and she laughed as she answered3 ,well1 ,miss ,wise-one1 are you going to wish1 and then sit back and wait to see if it 'comes true'8 ,i'll wish just for fun1 but ,i don't believe what she said about the old well any more than you do1 ,valerie ,dare4 ,we'd be silly to even think that an old well had any power to grant wishes1 ,betty said1 but ,valerie laughed again4 ,then why did we bother to sit on this wall and wish8 she said4 ,we might just as well wish while we're waiting along the road4 ,come on6 cried ,betty4 ,you wished on the wall beside the well1 and ,i'll wish as we walk along1 and we'll see which gets what she wished for4 ,all right1 agreed ,valerie1 but ,i do hope you'll get yours1 ,betty4 ,i'm as likely to1 as if ,i'd kept sitting by the well1 ,betty said1 for ,i wish for what just couldn't happen4 ,why ,betty ,chase6 ,why don't you wish for something that you've a chance of getting1 said ,valerie1 stopping squarely in front of ,betty4 ,because ,i have everything ,i want but one thing1 was the quiet reply4 ,and that one thing is--what8 queried ,valerie4 ,i love ,dorothy ,dainty1 and ,i don't want to say 'good-by' to her when school closes4 ,i'd like to be where she is this summer1 but that couldn't be4 ,you see our summer home is lovely1 and we go there every year4 ,father and mother like the country better than the shore1 but ,i like the beach1 and the water best4 ,dorothy and ,nancy will go home to ,merrivale1 but whether they spend the summer there1 or go away to some other place1 it won't make much difference to me4 ,it's not likely to happen that they'll come to the quiet little town where we are to spend the summer4 ,betty's merry face now wore such a sober expression that ,valerie said3 ,well1 ,i still say ,i wish you'd wanted something that really could happen4 ,at that moment some one appeared just around a bend of the road1 some one wearing the gayest of colors1 and with her a little old-fashioned figure in a dark brown dress4 ,look6 ,patricia and ,arabella are coming this way1 and they look as if they were planning something great4 ,just see how close together their heads are6 ,i don't know ,arabella very well1 but when ,patricia is 'up to' anything1 it's pretty sure to be mischief4 ,oh1 ,i don't know1 ,valerie4 ,it's just as likely to be some way she's planning for a chance to show off4 ,betty laughed4 ,did you hear ,vera ,vane telling about the afternoon that ,patricia knocked at her door1 and said that she had come to 'make a call'8 ,i didn't hear that1 said ,valerie4 ,what did she do8 ,she was wearing all the rings and bangles that she owned1 and in her hand was a card-case1 just as if she were grown up4 ,she sat on the tip edge of her chair1 and she kept taking out her handkerchief1 and shaking it because it was drenched with perfumery1 and when she went1 she emptied the card-case on the table1 and ,vera counted the cards4 ,say1 ,patricia had left fifty4 ,wasn't that funny8 ,hush--sh6 breathed ,valerie1 she might hear you4 ,patricia rushed forward1 while ,arabella1 as usual1 hung back1 preferring to stare at ,betty and ,valerie through her spectacles1 rather than have a little chat4 ,she wanted to watch their faces1 and see if they were greatly surprised with the news that ,patricia had to tell4 ,guess where we're going6 ,patricia cried1 but you couldn't guess1 so ,i'll tell you4 ,we're going over to the well1 the one that's called the wishing-well1 she explained1 and we mustn't tell what we mean to wish for1 'cause if you tell1 you wouldn't get your wish4 ,did you know that8 ,betty said that she had not heard that4 ,i'll tell you to-morrow just how to find it1 but we can't stop now4 ,there isn't time4 ,late6 cried ,valerie4 ,i guess you two are late4 ,we think we have to hurry to get to ,glenmore on time1 and you are going away from school every minute4 ,why don't you go to the well1 if you want to1 to-morrow4 ,arabella thought that they ought to turn back1 but ,patricia seized her hand1 and the two commenced to run4 ,they'll be a half-hour late1 said ,valerie1 looking after the flying figures4 ,and ',the ,fender' will be waiting for a chance to scold them when they come in1 said ,betty4 ,as they pushed the gate open1 they saw a little figure disappearing around the corner of the house4 ,that was ,ida ,mayo1 said ,valerie4 ,i didn't see her face4 ,are you sure it was ,ida8 ,betty asked4 ,oh1 it was ,ida1 ,valerie answered1 and ,i do wonder why she stays in her room all the time4 ,if she happens to come down when the girls are out1 she runs1 the moment she sees any of us coming4 ,it's a long time ago that she was sick1 ,betty replied1 but she must be all right by this time4 ,i wonder why she ran when she saw us8 ,we don't know her well enough to stop her to talk4 ,she's bigger than we are1 and she's three classes above us4 ,who told you she stayed in her own room all the time8 continued ,betty4 ,patricia ,levine said so1 ,valerie said4 ,why1 ,valerie ,dare1 you know ,patricia tells--well--things that aren't really true1 said ,betty4 ,well1 we don't see ,ida1 now1 as we used to1 ,valerie said4 ,that might just happen1 said ,betty4 ,it happened that what ,patricia had said was true4 ,the so-called beautifier had injured the skin so severely that it required time to heal it4 ,mrs4 ,marvin had said that ,ida was feeling far from well1 which was true4 ,her vanity had prompted her to do a foolish thing1 and she had suffered for it1 both because of her painful face1 and because in her nervousness1 she had cried until completely tired out4 ,mrs4 ,marvin had talked with her kindly and wisely1 she had let old ,judy take her meals up to her room1 and she had personally given her private instruction1 for she pitied the silly girl1 and sought to keep curious ones from annoying her4 ,ida had hastened away when she had seen the two younger girls coming because there still were traces on her cheeks of the burning caused by the patent beautifier1 and she seemed more afraid of the comments of the younger girls1 than of her own classmates4 ,as the two girls entered the hall they saw that the tall clock marked the time as quarter-past five4 ,fifteen minutes to fix up just a bit1 said ,betty4 ,come on6 ,they raced up the stairs and soon reached their room4 ,valerie was ready first1 because ,betty had found a letter waiting for her1 and promptly sat down to read it4 ,you'd better not stop to read it1 cautioned ,valerie1 for when we came in we had only fifteen minutes to-- ,but just then ,betty gave a little cry of delight4 ,oh-oo6 ,just listen to this6 she cried4 ,father says we are to go to the shore this summer just for a change1 and already he has rented the summer place4 ,she clapped her hands1 and laughed with sheer happiness4 ,oh1 ,i'm so glad to hear that to-night4 ,i do believe ,i'll dream about it1 she said4 ,the half-hour for social chat was over1 and dinner was half through when ,patricia and ,arabella entered the dining-room4 ,all eyes were turned upon them4 ,patricia held her chin very high1 and looked as if she were thinking3 ,i know ,i'm late1 but what of that8 ,she was assuming a boldness that she did not feel1 whereas ,arabella was absolutely natural4 ,she felt frightened1 and looked--just as she felt4 ,wouldn't you like to know what they wished8 whispered ,valerie1 to which ,betty whispered in reply3 ,i'd like to know1 but they wouldn't tell us4 ,it was a fixed rule at ,glenmore that the pupils must be present at the social half-hour1 and then be sure of being prompt at six1 the dinner hour4 ,patricia and ,arabella were the first to break that rule4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there was to be a week's vacation1 and all but four of the pupils were to spend it at home4 ,they were ,patricia and ,arabella1 ,dorothy1 and ,nancy4 ,mrs4 ,dainty and ,aunt ,charlotte were still traveling1 and ,mrs4 ,vane had asked ,vera to bring ,dorothy and ,nancy home with her for the week4 ,already they had planned enough pleasure to last a month1 and ,vera was still racking her busy brain to think of other things that they might do4 ,the pupils were welcome to remain at ,glenmore if they wished1 and ,patricia had decided that that was just what she would do4 ,arabella had hesitated4 ,she was fond of her father1 and she had intended to go home for the week1 but ,patricia had declared that they would stay at ,glenmore1 and ,arabella was no match for ,patricia1 so it was settled that they would remain at the school4 ,the week at ,vera's home opened charmingly4 ,mrs4 ,vane had given the week over to ,vera and her three little guests4 ,it isn't quite a week1 she said when she greeted them1 for you have arrived ,monday afternoon1 and you must leave ,saturday morning4 ,that gives us ,tuesday1 ,wednesday1 ,thursday1 and ,friday1 and we must make each day delightful4 ,it always is delightful here1 said ,dorothy1 and it seemed so good to come to you when mother was away4 ,mrs4 ,vane drew ,dorothy closer4 ,she knew that at heart1 sweet ,dorothy was a bit homesick4 ,we'll have a pleasant little home evening with music and games1 she said1 and you'll all feel rested by to-morrow4 ,i'll not tell what ,i've in store for to-morrow4 ,that is a secret1 she said4 ,of course ,vera coaxed1 and the others tried to guess1 but ,mrs4 ,vane remained firm1 only laughing as their guessing grew wilder4 ,mother truly can keep a secret1 but ,i can't1 said ,vera4 ,i mean to keep it but first thing ,i know1 ,i'm telling it4 ,we all know that1 said ,elf1 and ,vera joined in the laughter of the others4 ,tuesday was fair1 and ,mrs4 ,vane1 at lunch looked at the four bright faces before her1 ,vera1 a small copy of herself2 ,elf1 whose mischievous face was truly elfish2 ,nancy1 whose gypsy beauty always pleased1 and ,dorothy1 blue-eyed1 fair-haired1 whose lovable disposition shone from her eyes1 and made her sweet to look upon4 ,we shall take a trip to ,fairy-land this afternoon1 she said1 and must start directly after lunch4 ,that was all that she would tell1 and as they motored up one busy street1 and down another1 she enjoyed watching their eager faces1 and listening to their chatter4 ,fairy-land proved to be a wonderful play1 depicting ,elf-land with fairies1 water nymphs1 elves and witches1 goblins1 and gnomes1 with exquisite scenery1 beautiful costumes1 and graceful dancing that held them entranced1 from the time that the curtain went up until the grand march of the fairies at the finale4 ,the grown-ups in the audience were delighted1 so it was not strange that ,mrs4 ,vane's party was spellbound4 ,of them all1 ,nancy best understood the perfect art of the dancing4 ,she had been drilled in those dainty steps1 and she saw how cleverly each did her part4 ,it was an afternoon of enchantment1 and when the play was over1 the gay little party howled along the broad thoroughfare toward home and they talked of the beautiful fairy play1 and the graceful girls who had danced as nymphs4 ,the four days passed so quickly that when ,saturday dawned1 it seemed hardly possible that it was time to return to ,glenmore4 ,there had been a wonderful exhibition of paintings for ,wednesday1 a huge fair for ,thursday at which ,mrs4 ,vane bought a lovely gift for each as a souvenir4 ,thursday they had motored out beyond the city where willows were showing their misty green1 and gay little crocus beds were in bloom4 ,they had stopped for lunch at a pretty restaurant that looked for all the world like a rustic cottage1 and then had returned to find ,rob ,vane waiting to greet them1 as they drew up to the house4 ,hello6 he called to them before they had alighted4 ,how is this1 that a fellow gets a week's vacation1 and comes home from school to find only servants to greet him8 ,why1 ,robert1 ,i am glad enough to have you home for a week4 ,i thought you were to stay at school for extra coaching8 ,that's what ,i wrote in my last letter1 said ,rob1 but ,i passed exams4 with flying colors4 ,i was nervous1 and feared ,i wasn't prepared1 but say6 ,i was needlessly scared1 for ,i not only 'passed1' but snatched the prize for mathematics4 ,i am proud of you1 ,robert1 and your father will be pleased1 ,mrs4 ,vane said1 her fine eyes shining4 ,and ,i'm proud of you1 ,rob1 cried ,vera1 rushing at him1 and clasping her arms about him4 ,hi1 ,pussy ,weather-vane1 it's good to have a little sister1 said ,rob1 swinging her around until she was dizzy4 ,are you glad to see me1 too8 he asked1 laughing at her flushed cheeks1 and touzled1 flaxen hair4 ,oh1 ,rob6 ,so glad1 even if you do shake me up until ,i look wild1 ,vera said1 clinging to his arm1 and dragging him toward the little guests4 ,i dare to say he's the best brother in the world because neither one of you has a brother1 so you won't be offended4 ,spare my blushes1 ,vera1 cried ,rob4 ,say1 girls1 ,i'm mighty glad to see you4 ,how long are you to stay8 ,a week8 ,we are going back to ,glenmore ,saturday1 ,dorothy said1 and we start at nine in the morning4 ,there is no one at the ,stone ,house but the servants1 and it was so lovely to come home with ,vera4 ,it surely was the best thing that you could do1 ,rob replied earnestly1 for he knew by a slight quiver in her voice that ,dorothy was a bit homesick4 ,nancy heard the odd little quiver when ,dorothy was speaking1 and she hastened to speak of cheery things4 ,we've had just the dearest visit1 and we've been to the theater1 to a big fair1 to see a hall hung with beautiful pictures1 and how we have enjoyed it all6 she said4 ,i'll do the entertaining to-morrow1 said ,rob4 ,i'll take you all to see something that will be no end of fun4 ,what will it be1 ,rob8 ,vera asked1 but ,rob tweaked her curls1 and laughed4 ,that's my secret1 he said1 and they had to be satisfied with that4 ,,chapter ,x ,a ,,lively ,,week ,dorothy woke very early the next morning1 and turned to look at ,nancy1 to find that ,nancy was looking straight at her4 ,they both laughed4 ,i was wondering if you were awake1 ,nancy said4 ,i turned to look at you1 ,nancy1 to see if your eyes were open1 ,dorothy said4 ,i was going to ask you if you knew that ,patricia and ,arabella were spending the week at ,glenmore4 ,i knew it1 because when ,i told ,patricia that we were to spend the week at ,vera's home1 she looked1 for just a second1 as if she were provoked because she had not been invited1 too4 ,then she hurried to say that she'd rather stay at ,glenmore4 ,that ,arabella was to stay1 too1 and that she thought they would have a finer time than we4 ,i wonder how they amused themselves1 ,dorothy said4 ,glenmore would be so quiet with all the girls away4 ,and ,miss ,fenler would have all the time to watch them1 with none of the other pupils to care for1 responded ,nancy4 ,dorothy1 ,nancy6 ,come down so ,i can tell you something6 called ,vera4 ,they heard ,mrs4 ,vane say gently3 ,don't hurry them1 ,vera4 ,they were half-way down the stairs1 however1 and in the lower hall they saw ,elf1 already up1 because she had shared ,vera's room1 and ,vera had awakened her4 ,rob has told me6 ,rob has told me6 ,vera said1 dancing around ,dorothy and ,nancy4 ,bob has told me1 and ,i couldn't wait to tell you4 ,he's going to take us out into the country to our summer place1 and there we'll go to a little country circus6 ,won't that be great8 ,he came home just in time4 ,that will be great fun1 said ,dorothy1 and after we've seen it1 we can talk it over1 all the way back4 ,let's get ready now6 cried ,vera4 ,why1 ,vera6 ,it is only eight o'clock1 and the circus begins at two1 so ,bob said1 ,elf remarked1 with the thought of calming ,vera1 but that was not so easily done4 ,but it's a two-hour ride out there4 ,come up to my room1 ,elf1 and help me choose a dress1 ,vera replied1 as she caught ,elf by the hand and rushed up the stairway4 ,how they laughed4 ,the morning sped on wings1 and lunch was served early4 ,just as they were leaving the house1 the postman brought a letter for ,dorothy that had been remailed from ,glenmore1 and she took it with her to read1 if there was an opportunity4 ,the ride out from the city over fine roads1 and along beautiful avenues1 was delightful1 and the jolly little party reached ,vane ,villa1 earlier than they had thought possible4 ,dorothy is aching to read her letter1 ,vera said1 so sit out here and read it1 ,dorothy dear1 she continued1 and ,rob will take ,elf around to see the kennels1 and ,i'll tag along with them1 for if ,i stay here1 ,i'll talk and talk so you won't know what is in your letter after all4 ,it was a kind thought1 and a bit of tact that careless1 flighty ,vera often showed4 ,dorothy opened her letter1 and commenced reading4 ,after a few lines she looked up1 her eyes shining4 ,nancy1 come here1 and listen to this4 ,they are already on the homeward trip1 and the first of ,may ,mother and ,aunt ,charlotte will be at the ,stone ,house1 and we are to join them a week later4 ,already ,mother has written to ,mrs4 ,marvin1 and we are to be excused for the last two weeks at ,glenmore1 and away we'll speed toward ,merrivale and home4 ,oh1 ,i am so glad6 ,nancy cried as she pressed ,dorothy closer4 ,and that isn't all1 said ,dorothy1 for hear this3 ,i'm sure1 dear1 that you and ,nancy will be delighted to know that1 after a short stay at the ,stone ,house1 we shall go to ,foam ,ridge for the summer4 ,you are both so fond of the shore1 and the salt air4 ,nancy's eyes were bright1 and there was a droll twinkle in them4 ,drawing closer1 ,nancy whispered a rare bit of news4 ,do you mean that8 ,dorothy asked4 ,are you sure8 ,nancy laughed and nodded4 ,illustration3 ,,drawing ,,closer1 ,,nancy ,,whispered ,a ,,rare ,,bit ,,of ,,news4--,page #ahf4 ,perfectly sure1 she said1 for only the day before vacation ,betty told me that her mother had just written to say that for a change they were to spend the summer at the shore1 and she said3 ',isn't ,foam ,ridge a pretty name4' ,i didn't think to tell you1 because ,i never dreamed that we would be going to the same place4 ,i knew you'd be pleased1 for you like ,betty ,chase as well as ,i do4 ,oh1 ,i am truly glad that we shall see ,betty at the shore4 ,hello6 shouted ,rob4 ,anybody thinking of going to the circus6 ,yes6 ,yes6 they cried1 and ran to join ,rob and ,vera and ,elf4 ,for a small circus it proved to be quite a show4 ,there were trained dogs that were really clever1 there were trained elephants1 but best of all there were some handsome horses1 whose riders did wonderful vaulting1 tumbling1 and riding1 springing over hurdles1 and through covered hoops4 ,when they left the tent the girls were delighted with the show1 and ,rob said it made him think of his early ambition to be a circus performer4 ,why wouldn't you like to now8 asked ,vera4 ,if ,i had ever wanted to1 ,i'd want to now4 ,i wouldn't change my mind4 ,well1 ,i don't see why you all laugh6 she cried1 looking in surprise from one to the other4 ,it was small wonder that they laughed4 ,vera rarely held one opinion for more than half a day1 and had been known to have a half-dozen minds inside of an hour6 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was a jolly party that took the train for ,glenmore on ,saturday morning4 ,rob had taken them to the station1 bought a a box of candy for each1 and waited until the last moment to leave the train4 ,if ,miss ,fenler has been watching ,patricia this week she has been busy1 said ,elf1 when they had settled themselves for the long ride4 ,she could easily watch ,arabella1 she is so slow1 ,dorothy said4 ,it happened that ,mrs4 ,marvin had told ,miss ,fenler to closely watch both girls who had chosen to spend the week's vacation at the school4 ,school without lessons would be fine1 they thought4 ,i think ,arabella ,correyville1 if she were here alone1 would be very little care1 but ,patricia ,levine is as full of queer notions as any girl could be1 and she plans the oddest mischief1 and then drags slow little ,arabella into it4 ,patricia never tries to help her out1 and she invariably laughs if ,arabella is caught4 ,arabella is so slow that she really doesn't know that ,patricia rules her1 while ,patricia rules1 and laughs at ,arabella for obeying4 ,i promise to watch them1 and ,i am likely to be more closely employed than during a regular school session1 ,miss ,fenler said in reply4 ,the first day passed without any especial happening1 but the next day the two set out for a walk1 soon after breakfast1 and did not return until just before six4 ,you were not here at one o'clock for lunch1 ,miss ,fenler said4 ,where were you8 ,i lunched with a friend1 said ,patricia1 and ,arabella drawled1 ,so did ,i4 ,i did not know that you had friends here in town1 ,miss ,fenler said1 in surprise4 ,they were1 of course friends1 and they had lunched together4 ,what they had said had been true1 but surely not honest4 ,arabella stared stupidly at ,miss ,fenler1 and ,patricia imitated her stolid friend1 too4 ,it was easier to look dull than to answer more questions4 ,on the third day ,mrs4 ,marvin was absolutely amazed to glance toward her window just in time to see ,patricia entering the house with a cat in her arms4 ,questioned as to where she obtained the cat she said that a boy gave it to her1 that she didn't know his name1 or where he lived4 ,where do you expect to keep it8 asked ,miss ,fenler1 who had been sent to meet her4 ,i thought ,i could keep her in the little shed that's next to the kitchen1 and then ,judy could feed her1 was the answer1 given as confidently as if the whole matter were settled4 ,mrs4 ,marvin came out into the hall in time to hear what ,patricia said4 ,i think we can arrange to let puss remain if she is to be under ,judy's care1 she said1 for only yesterday she told me that the mice are becoming very bold1 and they are too wise to go into the traps that she sets4 ,a sound of falling pans1 flat-irons1 and other kitchen utensils made them start4 ,patricia clung to the cat1 although it was making desperate efforts to get away4 ,ow-oo-o6 ,o massy sakes6 ,yow-hoo6 shouted ,judy as she burst the door open1 and tore out into the hall4 ,dem mices'll kill me yit1 ,i do b'liebe6 she yelled4 ,de windows1 an' do's is shet1 an' dey's prancin' on de kitchen' flo4 ,oh-oo6 ,hush1 ,judy1 hush6 ,mrs4 ,marvin said4 ,we've a cat with us1 and she is just in time4 ,i sho' won't go nigh dat kitchen wid no cat1 nor nuffin' else1 ,judy said1 her eyes rolling in terror4 ,pooh6 cried ,patricia1 ,i'd be glad to put her out there before ,i get any more scratches1 and going to the end of the hall1 she opened the door1 and dropped puss on the floor4 ,in less time than it takes to tell it the cat had caught the two tiny mice1 that had been far more afraid of the big colored woman1 than she had been of them1 and that is saying a great deal4 ,patricia was never inclined to be in any way obliging4 ,she was one of those unpleasant girls who find no joy in being kind or helpful4 ,whatever she did1 was done wholly for her own sake1 and ,judy eyed her with suspicion when she saw how promptly she took the big cat to the kitchen4 ,having given the cat over to the care of ,judy1 ,patricia raced up the stairway to her room4 ,judy rolled her eyes to look after her4 ,wha' fo' she done dat8 she asked of ,miss ,fenler1 who stood near her4 ,wha' fo'8 ,i axes4 ,dat ar young miss done bring dat cat home ter hab in her room fo' a pet4 ,how happen her to gib it up ter ,judy8 ,nonsense1 ,judy4 ,she knows1 as all the pupils know1 that it is a fixed rule at ,glenmore1 that no pupil can have a pet in her room4 ,all de same1 ,miss ,patrichy meant dat cat ter be up in her room1 long o' dat ar ,carbale gal4 ,judy never could get ,arabella's name correctly4 ,sometimes it was ,carbale1 then it was ,corbille1 but never once had she managed to call it ,correyville4 ,well1 the cat is in the kitchen now1 and you must look out for her4 ,keep her in for a few days until she feels that this is home1 and then she will stay1 ,miss ,fenler said1 and returned to her account-books4 ,thursday the two girls were in their room all day1 reading1 and devouring a treat that ,patricia had smuggled in4 ,it was much the same mnu that ,patricia usually chose1 without a thought as to how the different things would combine4 ,who but ,patricia ,levine would ever think of eating ice-cream1 and big green pickles at the same time8 ,the reason that she would have given for eating them at the same time would have been that she liked both4 ,they ate the papers of ice-cream first before it could melt1 and then1 each took a huge green pickle1 and a favorite book1 and settled down to read4 ,when the lunch hour arrived1 ,patricia felt a bit queer1 while ,arabella felt decidedly queerer4 ,neither cared to eat1 but they dared not stay away from the dining-room1 so both went down to the table1 but they made only a pretense of eating4 ,early in the afternoon both felt hungry4 ,patricia rushed to the closet1 and returned with some chocolate claires1 and a bottle of olives4 ,i'll eat an claire1 said ,arabella1 but maybe ,i'd better not eat olives with it4 ,well1 of all things6 cried ,patricia4 ,let me tell you what you don't know4 claires and olives just b'long together4 ,don't act funny1 ,arabella4 ,arabella1 always afraid of being laughed at1 ate not only one claire1 but two1 and a dozen olives1 as well4 ,during the afternoon1 they ate four crullers1 two pickled limes1 two ham sandwiches1 and a pound of fudge4 ,patricia could eat anything1 and any amount of food without any ill effect1 but ,arabella was really sick when the hour for dinner arrived4 ,when ,mrs4 ,marvin questioned ,patricia1 she said that ,arabella had a headache1 and that she had said that she was not hungry4 ,mrs4 ,marvin sent a waitress up to their room with some toast and tea for ,arabella4 ,arabella barely tasted it1 and the girl returned to report that ,miss ,arabella looked sick1 and really could not eat4 ,the next day found her much like her usual self1 and ,patricia proposed a walk4 ,i'll go with you in a minute1 said ,arabella4 ,what are you waiting for8 snapped ,patricia4 ,she turned1 and saw that ,arabella was shaking some green pills from a bottle4 ,it's hard work trying to mind two people who say different things1 complained ,arabella4 ,aunt ,matilda told me to take these green pills every hour1 wherever ,i happen to be1 and ,mrs4 ,marvin says ,i must not be continually taking medicine in the class-room4 ,how can ,i do both8 ,don't take it at all6 cried ,patricia4 ,but my health-- ,oh1 bother your health1 said ,patricia4 ,i should think you'd be sick of hearing about it4 ,i am1 confessed ,arabella4 ,then pitch every one of those bottles out1 and see what happens6 ,no wonder the girls here call you the 'medicine-chest4' ,the doses you take make me sick just to see them4 ,arabella looked sulky1 and when ,patricia started for a walk1 ,arabella refused to go4 ,she was usually afraid of ,patricia1 and did as she directed1 but when she became sulky1 not even ,patricia could move her1 try as she might4 ,arabella was standing near the window when ,patricia returned1 and what she saw was anything but pleasing4 ,at the end of a leash was a small1 shaggy1 yellow dog1 of no especial breed6 ,arabella detested dogs1 and was desperately afraid of them as well4 ,she told herself that the dog would also be in ,judy's care1 and was wondering how he would get on with the cat1 when she heard a loud whisper outside the door4 ,let me in1 quick6 it said1 and when ,arabella opened the door1 ,patricia stumbled over the dog who had run between her feet1 and the two landed on the middle of the rug in a heap4 ,there6 ,isn't he a beauty8 ,patricia asked and without waiting for an answer continued1 ,a man told me he was a valuable dog that ought to bring fifty dollars1 but because he was going to leave town1 he let me have him1 for two dollars1 and threw in the leash4 ,wasn't that a bargain8 ,what are you going to do with him8 ,arabella asked4 ,oh1 take him away6 ,i don't want him sniffing at me6 ,patricia made an outrageous face1 and tugged at the leash4 ,keep him in this room until ,i go home1 and then take him with me1 she said4 ,i'll not sleep in this room if that dog is kept in here6 declared ,arabella4 ,where will you sleep8 ,patricia asked1 coolly4 ,they wouldn't let you sleep out in the hall1 and if ,i put the dog out there1 ',the ,fender' will take him4 ,by extreme care1 ,patricia managed not to do anything that would make him bark4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,an ,,innocent ,,sneak-,,thief ,the little dog had slept all night1 but when morning came he wanted to go out for a romp4 ,patricia tied him to the leg of the bed1 gave him some breakfast and sat on the floor beside him to stop him if he began to bark4 ,thus far he had been very quiet1 only softly growling1 and stopping that when ,patricia held up her finger and told him he must keep still4 ,why do we have to review8 ,patricia said as ,arabella took up a book4 ,the idea of looking into my history to see when ,virginia was settled at ,jamestown when any one knows it was in fourteen ninety-two6 ,o my1 ,patricia6 ,that's wrong1 ,arabella said1 ,that's when ,columbus discovered ,america4 ,well1 for goodness' sake6 ,couldn't he have landed in ,virginia1 and settled it at the same time8 demanded ,patricia4 ,she was desperately angry1 but ,arabella persisted4 ,don't you know1 ,patricia1 it couldn't have been settled in fourteen ninety-two8 ,oh1 don't bother me about that6 said ,patricia1 and ,arabella1 peering at her through her goggles decided that it would be wise to do no more correcting4 ,i don't think ,miss ,fenler is fair1 said ,patricia1 for she marked my history paper only forty-two1 and ,i just know it ought to have been higher than that4 ,and my spelling she marked only thirty-eight last month1 and all because ,i put an r in water1 spelling it 'warter1' and ,i'm sure that's not bad4 ,you put two t's in it1 too1 said ,arabella4 ,i will again if ,i want to1 snapped ,patricia4 ,there's the breakfast-bell4 ,he's sure to bark while we're down-stairs1 ,arabella said4 ,she hoped that he would1 so that he might be given other quarters4 ,he looked up as the door closed1 and was about to bark when he saw one of ,arabella's slippers1 and grabbing it1 retired under the bed to chew it4 ,it was a rule that the maids should make the beds1 and put the rooms in order while the pupils were at breakfast1 and on that morning it fell to ,maggie's share of the work to care for the only room now occupied4 ,she was a good-natured ,irish girl1 and she entered the room singing3 ',now1 ,rory1 be aisy1 don't tase me no more1 ',tis the--' ,och1 murther6 ,murther6 ,there's a man under the bed1 an' he grabbed me by me shoe1--oh6 oh6 ,down-stairs she ran1 screaming all the way1 declaring that there was a man up-stairs1 and calling for some one brave enough to dhrive him out4 ,her terror was very real1 and ,marcus was called in to oust the intruder4 ,it must be a sneak-thief1 said ,miss ,fenler4 ,it am a sneak-thief1 said ,marcus1 appearing with the small dog in his arms4 ,he stole a slipper1 an den sneaked under der bed ter chew on it4 ,sure1 he am a sneak-thief1 but ,i knows a cullud gemman what wants a dog1 an' ,i guess he's 'bout the right size4 ,dey has a pow'ful small house1 an' him an' his wife1 an' seben chilluns lib in dem two rooms1 so he couldn't want no bigger dog dan dis yar4 ,why nobody can give that dog away6 shrieked ,patricia4 ,i bought him yesterday1 and paid the man two dollars for him4 ,he's mine6 ,do you mean to tell me1 ,patricia1 that you bought that dog and deliberately brought him here1 when you knew that it was against the rules of the school8 ,mrs4 ,marvin asked4 ,you kept the cat1 said ,patricia4 ,because ,i let the cat remain1 you decided that it would be safe to do practically the same thing again1 did you8 ,mrs4 ,marvin's usually kind voice sounded very cold now4 ,he isn't a cat1 so 'tisn't the same1 ,patricia said with a pout4 ,we must find an owner for him1 ,marcus1 ,mrs4 ,marvin said4 ,i won't let him go6 screamed ,patricia4 ,you cannot keep him here4 ,then ,i'll go back to my aunt's house at ,merrivale1 and take him with me1 said ,patricia4 ,do as you like about that1 ,mrs4 ,marvin said quietly1 but you must choose4 ,i've choosed1 ,i mean 'chosen1' said ,patricia4 ,i'll go right straight off1 and take the dog with me4 ,it looked like haste and anger1 but for weeks ,patricia had been so far behind the others of her class1 that she believed that any day ,mrs4 ,marvin would send her home with a letter stating that she had been neglecting study1 and must give up her place to some ambitious pupil4 ,patricia preferred to go of her own choice1 so she rushed to her room1 and began to pack her belongings4 ,arabella stood watching her as if not fully realizing that she was losing her chum4 ,she was not quite so dull as she appeared4 ,she was sorry to have ,patricia go1 and she was not at all sure that she would like her room all to herself4 ,at the same time she was comforting herself with the thought that there would be no one to make her eat things that she ate for the sake of peace and that nearly always made her ill1 or to drag her into mischief that she1 herself would never have thought of4 ,when ,patricia's trunk was strapped to the back of the carriage1 and she stood on the porch1 her suit-case in one hand1 her other hand holding the dog's leash1 she turned to ,arabella4 ,well1 aren't you going to say something1 now ,i'm ready to start8 she asked4 ,do'no' what to say1 drawled ,arabella4 ,arabella had spoken the truth1 which1 however1 was not complimentary1 and ,patricia was offended4 ,arabella1 looking after her tried to decide just how she felt4 ,she would miss ,patricia1 because at times she was a lively chum1 but she was quick to take offense1 and ,arabella was always doing something that displeased her4 ,then1 too1 ,arabella had a very small allowance1 while ,patricia spent money with a free hand1 and always shared with ,arabella4 ,but what joy was there in eating the oddly chosen treats8 ,arabella decided that as there was but a short time before the closing of school1 it was1 perhaps1 the best thing that could have happened1 that ,patricia had decided to go back to ,merrivale4 ,it seemed strange that she should prefer to be with her aunt in ,merrivale1 rather than with her mother1 at their home in ,new ,york1 but those who knew were not surprised4 ,mrs4 ,levine was as strange in some respects1 as her little daughter was in others4 ,if ,patricia enjoyed being away from home1 ,mrs4 ,levine1 flighty1 and weak-willed1 was glad to be free from the care of ,patricia4 ,the aunt was very glad of the money paid for ,patricia's board1 so every one concerned seemed satisfied4 ,surely ,patricia was having but little training1 but who was there to complain8 ,being away from home had one decided advantage1 ,patricia thought4 ,she could ask for money when she needed clothing1 and when she received it she could make her own choice of hats1 coats1 or dresses1 and what a lively choice it was6 ,she had rightly earned the title of the ,human ,rainbow4 ,she had heard the name1 and she liked it4 ,she thought that it implied that her costumes were gay1 rather than dull colored4 ,mrs4 ,marvin breathed a sigh of relief when ,patricia had actually left ,glenmore1 and ,miss ,fenler remarked that ,arabella was really too slow to get into mischief1 now that she had no one to assist her4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ride had been a long one1 and the car had been hot after the early morning4 ,vera complained that she was fairly roasted1 while ,elf declared that she had breathed smoke from the open windows until she believed that she would smell smoke for a week4 ,dorothy and ,nancy made little fuss about either smoke or heat1 bearing the discomforts of the trip patiently1 and laughing when ,vera fumed4 ,well1 ,i know1 if ,i were a man1 said ,vera1 ,i could make some kind of an engine that would go like lightning1 and have neither smoke nor cinders4 ,i told ,rob that1 and he said1 ',oh1 don't let it stop you because you're not a man4 ,just go ahead1 ,pussy ,weather-vane1 and plan it4 ,the companies won't refuse to use it because it wasn't invented by a man6' ,now1 isn't that just like a boy8 ,what time do ,i have to do things like that8 ,doesn't he know that ,i have lessons1 and all sorts of things that hinder me8 ,why do you girls laugh at everything ,i say1 just as ,rob does8 she concluded1 looking in surprise1 from one merry face to the other4 ,oh1 but ,vera1 you are funny when you sputter1 said ,elf4 ,i s'pose ,i am1 agreed ,vera1 and ,i don't much care4 ,i'm sure ,i'd rather make you laugh1 than make you look sober4 ,look6 ,look6 cried ,dorothy4 ,we're almost to ,glenmore6 ,not yet1 said ,vera4 ,oh1 but ,dorothy is right1 said ,nancy1 for look there where the river glistens in the sun4 ,and see that big ,club ,house right over there1 ,dorothy said1 pointing toward a handsome building of which the town of ,glenmore was justly proud4 ,but it doesn't seem quite like-- ,vera's remark was interrupted by the trainman1 who opened the door and shouted1 ,glenmore6 ,glenmore6 ,i guess it did look like it1 ,vera said1 as she sprang out on the platform1 followed by her three laughing companions4 ,marcus was waiting for them4 ,yo'-all git in1 an' we'll git dar as quick as we kin4 ,mis' ,marvin1 she say all the other pupils is arriv1 an' she hopes you fo' will be some prompt4 ,we came as soon as the train would bring us1 said ,elf4 ,but dat train am an hour later dan de time-table say4 ,do you believe that8 ,elf asked of the others1 as they rode along4 ,they must have changed the time-table1 ,nancy said4 ,marcus turned his head to shout3 ,no1 miss1 no4 ,nobody doesn't neber chane nuffin' in ,glenmore6 ,mrs4 ,marvin was on the porch1 as the carriage turned in at the gateway1 and she stepped forward to greet them as they sprang out on the walk4 ,i was beginning to wonder what had detained you1 when ,i was delighted to see the carriage coming around the bend of the road4 ,you are just in time to go to your rooms and 'freshen up' a bit before dinner1 and-- ,why1 ,arabella ,correyville6 ,what does this mean8 ,a drenched and bedraggled figure was mounting the steps4 ,her hair1 and garments were dripping1 she had lost her goggles1 and without them her eyes had a frightened stare4 ,i didn't mean to look like this1 she said1 but ,i lost the key to my room4 ,i'd locked the door when ,i went out1 and ,i wanted to study some before dinner4 ,i climbed up onto the edge of that hogshead that the workmen had left right beside the trellis that runs up by my window4 ,i meant to get in at my window1 but ,i fell and got into a hogshead of dirty water4 ',twasn't very pleasant1 she drawled4 ,one might have thought1 from the manner in which she said it that most people would have enjoyed the ducking6 ,mrs4 ,marvin looked discouraged4 ,this was the girl that could not get into a scrape1 now that she had no one to drag her in6 ,miss ,fenler1 will you assist ,arabella in making herself presentable before six8 ,it is after five-thirty now4 ,miss ,fenler looked anything but pleased1 but she dared not refuse4 ,arabella seemed quieter than ever when she came down the stairway1 her wet garments exchanged for dry ones1 and her straight hair primly braided1 thanks to ,miss ,fenler4 ,doubtless she had not recovered from her surprise when she found herself in the hogshead4 ,it always required time for ,arabella to recover from any new idea1 or unusual happening4 ,the other girls were giving the four who had just returned a gay welcome1 and ,dorothy slipped her arm around ,betty ,chase1 and told her the fine news that during the summer they were both to be at ,foam ,ridge4 ,oh1 ,dorothy6 cried ,betty1 her dark eyes shining1 ,i was delighted when mother wrote that we were going there1 just because ,i so love to be at the shore1 and now to think that you and ,nancy are to spend the summer there1--oh1 it is such a dear surprise4 ,but listen1 every one6 cried ,valerie ,dare4 ,that's all very fine for ,betty1 but the other bit of news isn't quite so nice4 ,dorothy ,dainty and ,nancy ,ferris are to leave ,glenmore two weeks earlier than the rest of us4 ,say6 ,do you think we'll miss them8 ,oh1 ,dorothy ,dainty6 ,why do you go so soon8 ,and take ,nancy with you1 too6 ,say1 do you have to8 ,can't you stay longer8 ,these and many more were the queries called forth by ,valerie's statement4 ,it was small comfort for them to listen when ,dorothy explained4 ,the fact remained1 that they did not want to have her leave before school closed4 ,she had endeared herself to her classmates1 and to many others whom she met at socials1 and after school sessions4 ,nancy shared her popularity1 and both prized the loving friendship that had made their stay at ,glenmore so pleasant4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,a ,,glad ,,return ,we're glad to think that to-night we shall be at home at the ,stone ,house1 and that we'll be with ,mother and ,aunt ,charlotte again1 and we're really sorry to say 'good-by' to ,glenmore and the pleasant friends that we have found here1 ,dorothy said1 as she stood on the porch with ,nancy1 waiting for ,marcus1 who was to take them to the station4 ,that's just the way we feel1 said ,nancy4 ,glad and sorry at the same time4 ,well1 let me tell you1 ,i don't feel two ways at once1 cried ,vera4 ,i feel just one way4 ,i'm just fearfully sorry6 ,mrs4 ,marvin had bidden them good-by1 after having expressed her approval of their work as pupils1 and her regret that they must leave too early to have a part in the program at the final exhibition4 ,on the train that they were to take1 there was no stop long enough to obtain anything to eat1 so ,judy had put up a tempting lunch of sandwiches1 cake1 and fruit4 ,betty and ,valerie had a box of chocolates for each1 and ,ida ,mayo1 now wholly recovered1 came in at the gate just in time to offer each a lovely rose from a cluster that she carried4 ,arabella came slowly out to join the group on the porch1 and seeing ,ida ,mayo offering her roses1 she decided not to be outdone4 ,here1 wait 'til ,i find something1 she said1 thrusting her hand deep into her pocket4 ,after a moment's search she produced two bottles of pills1 one pink and the other green4 ,take 'em with you1 she said1 offering one to ,dorothy1 and the other to ,nancy4 ,one is for a 'tired feeling1' and the other is for feeling too good4 ,i've forgotten which is which1 but if you take them both1 you're sure to feel all right during the long car-ride4 ,there were stifled giggles1 for surely bottles of medicine were curious gifts to offer1 and the group of girls thought it the drollest thing that ,arabella had yet done4 ,for only a second did ,dorothy hesitate4 ,she did not1 of course1 want to accept the funny gift1 but she saw ,arabella's cheek flush1 as little ,lina ,danford laughed softly1 and she did the kindest thing that she could have done4 ,thank you1 she said1 gently1 then to the others she added3 ,arabella is eager to have us both feel fine when we reach ,merrivale4 ,the soft laughter ceased1 and ,ida ,mayo said to a girl who stood near her3 ,isn't that just like ,dorothy ,dainty6 ,she doesn't want those pills any more than you or ,i would1 but she won't let ,arabella feel hurt4 ,she is dear1 and sweet1 was the whispered reply1 and so is ,nancy4 ,at last ,marcus arrived1 and as they rode along the avenue1 they waved their handkerchiefs to the group on the porch until they turned the corner1 and were out of sight4 ,the long car-ride was much like any all-day ride4 ,rather pleasant at first1 a bit tedious on the last hour1 but oh1 the joy of the home-coming6 ,mrs4 ,dainty had felt the first separation from ,dorothy keenly1 and she could not school herself to be calm when for the first time in months she would see her sweet face again1 so she sent the limousine over to the station1 and with a desperate effort at patience1 waited at home for the sound of its return4 ,aunt ,charlotte was more calm1 but so long had ,nancy been under her care that she seemed like a little daughter1 and now1 with ,mrs4 ,dainty she sat waiting1 and each smiled when she caught the other watching the clock4 ,of course the train was late in arriving at ,merrivale1 and ,mrs4 ,dainty was just beginning to be anxious when the limousine whirled up the driveway1 and stopped4 ,john opened the door1 and in an instant ,dorothy found herself held close in loving arms4 ,dorothy1 my darling1 ,i can never be parted from you again4 ,if it is a question of travel1 ,i will not go unless you go with me1 and if it is education1 then you must have private tutors at home4 ,oh1 yes1 yes6 agreed ,dorothy4 ,at first the newness amused me1 but the last half of the time grew harder and harder to bear4 ,i knew you needed the rest and change and ,i did my best4 ,when ,i found that you had come home two weeks earlier1 ,i could hardly wait till this morning to start4 ,we've tried to be cheerful for each other1 ,nancy said1 looking out from her shelter in ,aunt ,charlotte's arms1 but oh1 how good it is to be at home6 ,mollie ,merton1 and ,flossie ,barnet had waved to them as they turned in at the great gate1 and ,uncle ,harry had swung his cap gayly1 and looked the genuine pleasure that he felt at seeing them again4 ,let's go over to see ,dorothy and ,nancy1 ,flossie said1 but ,uncle ,harry laid his hand gently on her arm4 ,not just now1 ,flossie dear1 he said4 ,my little niece is truly glad to see them1 but ,i think there will be things to talk over1 and they have been apart for months1 so they should have this evening uninterrupted by any friends4 ,i guess that's so1 said ,flossie1 but it's hard to wait until to-morrow to tell them how glad we are to see them4 ,i love dat ,dorothy girl1 myself1 said ,uncle ,harry's small daughter1 and ,i love dat ,nancy girl1 too4 ,dat ,dorothy girl always has candy for me1 and dat ,nancy girl makes hats for my dolly4 ,uncle ,harry swung the tiny girl up to a seat on his shoulder1 and his blue eyes twinkled as he looked into the little1 eager face4 ,don't you love them when they aren't giving you something8 he asked4 ,oh1 yes6 said the little maid1 but ,i love them harder when they do4 ,then you'll love me 'harder' than you do now if ,i give you a ride up to the house8 he asked4 ,oh1 yes1 yes6 she cried1 and she laughed gayly as she rode in triumph up the driveway1 and into the house4 ,the evening was spent in the big living-room1 with a small fire blazing in the fireplace4 ,it had been warm and sunny all day1 but when evening came1 an east wind had risen1 and the happy little party was glad to sit cosily in doors4 ,dorothy and ,nancy listened entranced while ,mrs4 ,dainty and ,aunt ,charlotte told of their travels4 ,they had been south1 they had been west1 and they had brought home beautiful souvenirs of every place at which they had stayed4 ,then ,dorothy and ,nancy told of the life at ,glenmore1 of the new friends that they had met1 and of ,arabella and ,patricia4 ,it was a happy evening4 ,mr4 ,dainty had found it impossible to reach home until a week later1 but he had written a longer letter than usual1 and had sent one especially to ,dorothy1 and it seemed almost as if he were really talking to her as she read it4 ,bright and early next morning ,mollie and ,flossie raced over to the ,stone ,house1 and the four chattered so fast1 that the old gardener at work near the fountain1 took off his hat1 and for a moment stood listening4 ,he was not near enough to know what they were saying1 but he heard their happy voices1 now talking1 now laughing1 and he spoke his thoughts4 ,hear that now1 hear that6 ,an' will any man tell me that a garding is a reel garding widout the sound o' merry voices8 ,sure1 it's been so still here the past few weeks that ,i begun ter talk ter meself1 just ter break the stillness1 but it didn't do the trick1 fer me voice ain't what yo calls 'moosicle4' ,oh1 hear them now6 ,it does me good1 so it does4 ,there was news1 and a plenty of it to tell1 and when ,dorothy and ,nancy had told the happenings at ,glenmore1 ,mollie and ,flossie took their turn1 and related all the ,merrivale news4 ,you know ,sidney ,merrington used to be so lazy last winter that he didn't get on at all at school1 said ,flossie4 ,arithmetic was all that really vexed him1 but because he had low marking for that1 he wouldn't try hard to do anything else4 ,well1 ,mollie promised to help him1 7you needn't bother to poke me1 ,mollie1 for ,i will tell7 and she did help him every day1 and after a while he began to help himself1 and last week his average on the exam4 was ninety-three4 ,wasn't that fine8 ,he never would have got that if ,mollie hadn't helped him4 ,mollie1 you were dear1 said ,dorothy4 ,and ,tess ,haughton is ever so much nicer than she was1 ,mollie said1 for she doesn't do anything now that seems1--why not quite true4 ,that doesn't sound just as ,i mean it4 ,i know how to say it now4 ,i mean that she isn't sly4 ,she is a good playmate1 and a good friend4 ,oh1 that's fine6 ,dorothy and ,nancy cried1 as if with one voice4 ,there's another fine thing to tell1 said ,flossie4 ,reginald ,dean1 with the help of his big dog saved a little boy from drowning4 ,reginald saw him fall from the bridge1 and he never stopped to think that he isn't very big himself1 but jumped right in1 and was doing his best to save him1 when all at once his strength gave out1 and he called for help4 ,he never dreamed that his dog had followed him1 until with a splash he jumped into the water close beside him1 grabbed his clothes1 and dragged the two boys out4 ,wasn't that great8 said ,dorothy1 her hands tightly clasped1 her eyes shining4 ,reginald has the new bicycle that he so wanted4 ,his father gave it to him1 because he had been brave enough to forget danger1 and rush to aid the other boy1 said ,mollie1 and the dog is wearing a new collar with a brass plate on it1 engraved1 ',i'm a ,life-,saver4' ,katie ,dean said she was almost sure that she saw ,patricia ,levine yesterday1 said ,flossie1 but ,i said ,i thought she must still be away at school4 ,do you know where she is now8 ,she might have seen her1 for she left ,glenmore before we did1 ,dorothy said1 and she was just in the midst of telling how ,patricia had brought the big cat home1 and next had appeared with a little dog1 when ,mollie said3 ,here she comes now4 ,why1 she has a dog with her6 ,that's the one1 said ,nancy1 and she has him on a leash now1 just as she did at ,glenmore4 ,i wonder if her aunt likes him4 ,he tears and chews everything he can get hold of4 ,hello6 called ,patricia1 as soon as she saw them1 then1 ,my6 ,what did you and ,nancy get sent home for8 ,we weren't sent home1 ,nancy said1 indignantly4 ,now1 ,nancy ,ferris1 ,glenmore doesn't close until next week1 and here are you two at home4 ,that is no sign that we were sent1 said ,dorothy4 ,mother sent for us4 ,oh1 was that it8 ,patricia said saucily1 and then turning to ,mollie she asked3 ,how do you like my dog8 ,he isn't a pretty dog1 but he knows everything1 and he always minds4 ,my friends think it is just wonderful the way he minds me4 ,i taught him to4 ,stop6 she cried4 ,stop1 ,i tell you4 ,i won't let you chew the edge of my skirt4 ,will you stop8 ,oh1 well ,i don't care if you do chew it4 ,it's an old dress1 anyway4 ,she saw that he would not stop4 ,i've named him ,diogenes4 ,i don't know who ,diogenes was1 but ,i liked the name and he's such a hand to dodge1 ,i thought ,i'd call him ',dodgy' for short4 ,well1 ,i'm sure ,i don't see why you look so amused4 ,i think ,i've chosen a grand name for him4 ,come on1 ,dodgy6 but the small dog lay down4 ,well1 well1 how you do act6 ,come on6 ,up the street6 ,come6 ,the dog got up1 yawned1 and then1 taking a good hold on the leash1 he snatched it from ,patricia's hand1 and made off with it1 as fast as he could scamper1 ,patricia after him at top speed4 ,he minded me that time1 she turned to say1 then resumed her chase4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the next few days were filled with preparation for the trip to ,foam ,ridge1 and ,dorothy and ,nancy could think of little else4 ,both had felt the constraint at ,glenmore which was really necessary at so large a school4 ,the freedom from study1 with its fixed hours would be refreshing4 ,there would be fine surf at ,foam ,ridge1 and the two had tried on their new bathing-suits at least a dozen times4 ,they had studied the elaborate booklet that showed in colors1 the beauty-spots of the place1 and ,dorothy had received a letter from ,betty ,chase1 saying that in a short time she would be there to join them in their sports4 ,they were wondering what new friends they would make during the summer4 ,betty1 they knew1 would be a lively companion4 ,of the gay summer at the shore1 of the fun and frolic1 of the unexpected things that happened1 one may read in ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,at ,,foam ,,ridge4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,dorothy ,,dainty ,,series ,by ,,amy ,,brooks ,large #abmo ,cloth ,illustrated by the ,author 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,dorothy ,dainty ,dorothy's ,playmates ,dorothy ,dainty at ,school ,dorothy ,dainty at the ,shore ,dorothy ,dainty in the ,city ,dorothy ,dainty at ,home ,dorothy ,dainty's ,gay ,times ,dorothy ,dainty in the ,country ,dorothy ,dainty's ,winter ,dorothy ,dainty in the ,mountains ,dorothy ,dainty's ,holidays ,dorothy ,dainty's ,vacation ,,little ,,dorothy ,,dainty is one of the most generous-hearted of children4 ,selfishness is not at all a trait of hers1 and she knows the value of making sunshine1 not alone in her own heart1 but for her neighborhood and friends4--,boston ,courier4 ,,dorothy ,,dainty1 a little girl1 the only child of wealthy parents1 is an exceedingly interesting character1 and her earnest and interesting life is full of action and suitable adventure4--,pittsburg ,christian ,advocate4 ,no finer little lady than ,dorothy ,dainty was ever placed in a book for children4--,teachers' ,journal1 ,pittsburg4 ,,miss ,,brooks is a popular writer for the very little folks who can read4 ,she has an immense sympathy for the children1 and her stories never fail to be amusing4--,rochester 7,n4,y47 ,herald4 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,,the ,,randy ,,books ,by ,,amy ,,brooks #abmo ,,cloth ,,artistic ,,cover ,,design ,,in ,,gold ,,and ,,colors ,,illustrated ,,by ,,the ,,author ,,price1 ,net1 #a4jj ,,each ,illustration ,the progress of the ,randy ,books has been one continual triumph over the hearts of girls of all ages1 for dear little fun-loving sister ,prue is almost as much a central figure as ,randy1 growing toward womanhood with each book4 ,the sterling good sense and simple naturalness of ,randy1 and the total absence of slang and viciousness1 make these books in the highest degree commendable1 while abundant life is supplied by the doings of merry friends1 and there is rich humor in the droll rural characters4 ,randy's ,summer ,randy's ,good ,times ,randy's ,winter ,randy's ,luck ,randy and ,her ,friends ,randy's ,loyalty ,randy and ,prue ,randy's ,prince ,the ,randy ,books are among the very choicest books for young people to make a beginning with4 --,boston ,courier4 ,the ,randy ,books of ,amy ,brooks have had a deserved popularity among young girls4 ,they are wholesome and moral without being goody-goody4 --,chicago ,post4 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,,the ,,prue ,,books ,by ,,amy ,,brooks ,illustrated by the ,author #abmo ,cloth ,net1 #a4jj each 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,cunning little ,prue1 one of the most winsome little girls ever put in a book1 has already been met in another series where she gave no small part of the interest4 ,she well deserved books of her own for little girls of her age1 and they are now ready with everything in the way of large1 clear type1 and ,miss ,brooks's best pictures and her pleasing cover designs to make them attractive4 ,little ,sister ,prue ,prue's ,merry ,times ,prue at ,school ,prue's ,little ,friends ,prue's ,playmates ,prue's ,jolly ,winter ,miss ,brooks always brings out the best ways of acting and living and provides a good deal of humor in her original country characters4--,watchman1 ,boston4 ,few writers have ever possessed the faculty of reaching the hearts and holding the interest of little girl readers to the extent ,miss ,brooks has4--,kennebec ,journal1 ,augusta1 ,me4 ,to know ,prue is to love her1 for no more winsome little girl was ever put in a book1 and her keen wit and unexpected drolleries make her doubly attractive4--,kindergarten ,magazine4 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,only ,dollie ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,illustrated by ,bertha ,davidson ,square #abmo ,cloth #a4jj net ,illustration ,this is a brightly written story of a girl of twelve1 who1 when the mystery of her birth is solved1 like ,cinderella1 passes from drudgery to better circumstances4 ,there is nothing strained or unnatural at any point4 ,all descriptions or portrayals of character are life-like1 and the book has an indescribable appealing quality which wins sympathy and secures success4 ,it is delightful reading at all times4--,cedar ,rapids 7,ia47 ,republican4 ,it is well written1 the story runs smoothly1 the idea is good1 and it is handled with ability4--,chicago ,journal4 ,the ,little ,girl ,next ,door ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades4 ,large #abmo ,cloth ,illustrated by ,bertha ,davidson #a4jj net ,a delightful story of true and genuine friendship between an impulsive little girl in a fine ,new ,york home and a little blind girl in an apartment next door4 ,the little girl's determination to cultivate the acquaintance1 begun out of the window during a rainy day1 triumphs over the barriers of caste1 and the little blind girl proves to be in every way a worthy companion4 ,later a mystery of birth is cleared up1 and the little blind girl proves to be of gentle birth as well as of gentle manners4 ,winifred's ,neighbors ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,illustrated by ,bertha ,g4 ,davidson ,large #abmo ,cloth #a4jj net ,little ,winifred's efforts to find some children of whom she reads in a book lead to the acquaintance of a neighbor of the same name1 and this acquaintance proves of the greatest importance to ,winifred's own family4 ,through it all she is just such a little girl as other girls ought to know1 and the story will hold the interest of all ages4 ,illustration 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers1 or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,the ,children on the ,top ,floor ,illustration ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,large #abmo ,cloth ,illustrated by ,bertha ,davidson1 #a4jj net ,in this book little ,winifred ,hamilton1 the child heroine of ,winifred's ,neighbors1 reappears1 living in the second of the four stories of a ,new ,york apartment house4 ,on the top floor are two very interesting children1 ,betty1 a little older than ,winifred1 who is now ten1 and ,jack1 a brave little cripple1 who is a year younger4 ,in the end comes a glad reunion1 and also other good fortune for crippled ,jack1 and ,winifred's kind little heart has once more indirectly caused great happiness to others4 ,how ,barbara ,kept ,her ,promise ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,large #abmo ,cloth ,illustrated by ,bertha ,davidson #a4jj net ,two orphan sisters1 ,barbara1 aged twelve1 and little ,hazel1 who is only eight1 are sent from their early home in ,london to their mother's family in ,new ,york4 ,faithful ,barbara has promised her father that she will take care of pretty1 petted1 mischievous ,hazel1 and how she tries to do this1 even in the face of great difficulties1 forms the story which has the happy ending which ,miss ,rhoades wisely gives to all her stories4 ,little ,miss ,rosamond ,illustration ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,illustrated by ,bertha ,g4 ,davidson ,large #abmo #a4jj net ,rosamond lives in ,richmond1 ,va41 with her big brother1 who cannot give her all the comfort that she needs in the trying hot weather1 and she goes to the seaside cottage of an uncle whose home is in ,new ,york4 ,here she meets ,gladys and ,joy1 so well known in a previous book1 ,the ,little ,girl ,next ,door1 and after some complications are straightened out1 bringing ,rosamond's honesty and kindness of heart into prominence1 all are made very happy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all bookseller or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,brick ,house ,books ,by ,,nina ,,rhoades ,cloth #abmo ,illustrated #a4jj net each 99 99 99 99 99 ,priscilla of the ,doll ,shop ,illustration ,the ,brick ,house ,books1 as they are called from their well-known cover designs1 are eagerly sought by children all over the country4 ,there are three good stories in this book1 instead of one1 and it is hard to say which little girls1 and boys1 too1 for that matter1 will like the best4 ,brave ,little ,peggy ,peggy comes from ,california to ,new ,jersey to live with a brother and sister whom she has not known since very early childhood4 ,she is so democratic in her social ideas that many amusing scenes occur1 and it is hard for her to understand many things that she must learn4 ,but her good heart carries her through1 and her conscientiousness and moral courage win affection and happiness4 ,the ,other ,sylvia ,illustration ,eight-year-old ,sylvia learns that girls who are ,kings' ,daughters pledge themselves to some kind act or service1 and that one little girl named ,mary has taken it upon herself to be helpful to all the ,marys of her acquaintance4 ,this is such an interesting way of doing good that she adopts it in spite of her unusual name1 and really finds not only the other ,sylvia1 but great happiness4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston ,,top-,,of-,,the-,,world ,,stories ,translated from the ,scandinavian ,languages ,by ,,emilie ,,poulsson and ,,laura ,,poulsson ,illustrated in two colors by ,florence ,liley ,young ,price1 ,net1 #a4be ,illustration ,these stories of magic and adventure come from the countries at the top of the world1 and will transport thither in fancy the children who read this unusual book4 ,they tell of ,lapps and reindeer 7even a golden-horned reindeer671 of prince and herd-boy1 of knights and wolves and trolls1 of a boy who could be hungry and merry at the same time--of all these and more besides6 ,miss ,poulsson's numerous and long visits to ,norway1 her father's land1 and the fact that she is an experienced writer for children are doubtless the reasons why her translations are sympathetic and skilful1 and yet entirely adapted to give wholesome pleasure to the young public that she knows so well4 ,in these stories are the elements of wonder and magic and adventure that furnish the thrill so much appreciated by boys and girls ten or twelve years of age4 ,an aristocratic book--one that every young person will be perpetually proud of4--,lookout1 ,cincinnati1 ,o4 ,in this book the children are transported to the land they love best1 the land of magic1 of the fairies and all kinds of wonderful happenings4 ,it is one of the best fairy story books ever published4--,argus-,leader1 ,sioux ,falls1 ,s4,d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,boston ,,yule-,,tide ,,in ,,many ,,lands ,by ,,mary ,p4 ,,pringle and ,,clara ,a4 ,,urann ,fully illustrated and decorated #abmo ,cloth ,price1 #a4be ,net ,illustration ,the varying forms of ,christmas observance at different times and in different lands are entertainingly shown by one trained in choosing and presenting the best to younger readers4 ,the symbolism1 good cheer1 and sentiment of the grandest of holidays are shown as they appeal in similar fashion to those whose lives seem so widely diverse4 ,the first chapter tells of the ,yule-,tide of the ,ancients1 and the eight succeeding chapters deal respectively with the observance of ,christmas and ,new ,year's1 making up the time of ,yule1 or the turning of the sun1 in ,england1 ,germany1 ,scandinavia1 ,russia1 ,france1 ,italy1 ,spain1 and ,america4 ,the space devoted to each country has at least one good illustration4 ,the descriptions as presented in this well-prepared volume make interesting reading for all who love to come in loving contact with others in their high and pure enjoyments4--,herald-,presbyter1 ,cincinnati4 ,the way ,yule-,tide was and is celebrated is told in a simple and instructive way1 and the narrative is enriched by appropriate poems and excellent illustrations4--,cleveland ,plain ,dealer4 ,it is written for young people and is bound to interest them for the subject is a universal one4--,american ,church ,sunday ,school ,magazine4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,boston ,,little ,,folks ,,of ,,animal ,,land ,photographed and described by ,,harry ,,whittier ,,frees ,sixty ,full-page ,pictures of ,animal ,pets1 ,costumed1 ,posed1 and ,photographed from ,life ,each with a ,descriptive ,story ,square #hvo ,cloth ,photographic ,cover-insert1 ,end-leaves and ,jacket ,price1 ,net1 #a4ej2 ,postpaid1 #a4gj ,illustration ,there is no other book like this1 nor has there been4 ,mr4 ,frees has no equal in the posing and photographing of pet animals1 especially kittens and puppies1 which he delights to clothe in quaintly human style and cause to appear intently engaged in all manner of human duties and pastimes4 ,his clever imagination also lends itself readily to entertaining story-telling4 ,the result is a book that surprises and delights all who see it4 ,each of sixty half-tones from photographs of living1 costumed pets is faced by a page of bright descriptive narrative4 ,the continuation of story-interest is remarkably good1 and the pictures are a wonderful proof of what skill can do when combined with patience and kindness4 ,the novelty of the year in children's books1 exquisitely illustrated and printed1 and appealing to every lover of pets4 ,the only way to really know and enjoy this wonderful volume is to get it and live with it4 ,there is no other book like this1 nor has there been any4--,universalist ,leader4 ,we hardly know of such a delicious book for little children1 with sixty little stories and the same number of lovely full-page pictures of cats and dogs and dolls1 for the delight of grown-ups just as surely as the little folks4 ,it is a pleasant little feast all the way through for the eyes and the tender feelings4--,herald and ,presbyter4 ,there is a good deal of both fun and sentiment in the stories1 and they will appeal to all lovers of pets4--,brooklyn ,daily ,eagle4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers1 or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,boston ,,the ,,sleepy-,,time ,,story-,,book ,by ,,ruth ,o4 ,,dyer ,with ,frontispiece by ,,alice ,,barber ,,stephens and ,fifty-four ,pen-and-ink ,illustrations by ,,bertha ,,davidson ,,hoxie ,decorative ,end-leaves and ,title-page ,price1 ,net1 #a4jj2 ,postpaid1 #a4aj ,illustration ,intelligent mothers have learned better than to spoil the restful sleep of a child1 and probably exert an unfortunate influence upon his disposition and character1 by tales of ogres1 dark woods1 and savage beasts4 ,they know he cannot rest well with his mind excited and his blood quickened by tales of adventure1 but are at a loss to answer the natural plea for a bed-time story in a way that shall interest and yet soothe4 ,the simple nature-stories in this attractive book are the prescription of an expert for all such cases4 ,using familiar objects1 they1 with words adapted to a lulling tone of voice1 will hold the attention of a child until refreshing drowsiness comes to bring healthful rest4 ,a unique and delightful volume of restful stories by which the mother may put her little child to bed4 ,they meet not only the need of the mother who thinks she does not know how to tell stories1 but their slow cadences must be almost magical in the way of lulling a child to refreshing drowsiness4--,bulletin of the ,american ,institute of ,child ,life4 ,in the fashion of prose lullabies1 ,ruth ,dyer has put together a little volume of twenty-five short stories4 ,each deals with the things of every-day child experiences1 and aside from the standpoint of nap-time stories1 forms a pleasant lesson for the child consciousness in making it aware of its surroundings4--,the ,churchman4 ,pretty little bedside tales of the tranquilizing order are grouped in this neat little book for the pleasure of little people and the relief of mothers4--,detroit ,free ,press4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers1 or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co4 ,boston ,new ,editions of ,two ,favorite ,books ,,the ,,lance ,,of ,,kanana ,a ,,story ,,of ,,arabia ,by ,,harry ,w4 ,,french 7,abd el ,ardavan7 ,two-color illustrations by ,garrett ,net1 #a4jj ,illustration ,kanana1 a ,bedouin youth1 though excelling in athletic prowess1 is branded1 even by his father1 as a coward because he prefers the humble lot of a shepherd to the warrior's career that he1 the son of a sheik known as the ,terror of the ,desert1 was expected to follow4 ,only for ,allah and ,arabia will ,i lift a lance and take a life1 he maintained4 ,opportunity to prove his worth soon comes1 and the supposed coward1 understood too late1 becomes in memory a national hero4 ,the stirring story of the loyalty and self-sacrifice of a ,bedouin boy is well worth the attractive new edition in which it now presents its rare pictures of fervid patriotism4--,continent1 ,chicago4 ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,miltiades ,,peterkin ,,paul ,by ,,john ,,brownjohn ,frontispiece by ,john ,goss ,illustrated by ,boz ,quarto ,net1 #a4jj ,illustration ,here is a child classic reissued in a finer and handsomer form1 in response to the persistent demand of those who know the mirth-provoking quality of the exploits of the ingenious small boy named ,miltiades ,peterkin ,paul and spoken of as a great traveler1 although he was small4 ,whoever has once enjoyed the story of the restless little lad who imitated ,don ,quixote1 and did many other things1 is permanently charmed by it4 ,this youthful ,don ,quixote1 with his travels and exploits1 drives 'dull care' away from the elders and delights the juniors4--,watchman1 ,n4,y4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers ,lothrop1 ,lee ,shepard ,co41 ,boston ,,home ,,entertaining ,what to ,do1 and ,how to ,do ,it ,edited by ,,william ,e4 ,,chenery #abmo ,cloth ,price1 ,net1 4#ge ,postpaid1 4#he ,illustration ,this book is the product of years of study and the practical trying-out of every conceivable form of indoor entertainment4 ,all the games1 tricks1 puzzles1 and rainy-day and social-evening diversions have been practised by the editor2 many are original with him1 and many that are of course not original have been greatly improved by his intelligence4 ,all are told in the plainest possible way1 and with excellent taste4 ,the book is well arranged and finely printed4 ,at a low price it places within the reach of all the very best of bright and jolly means of making home what it ought to be--the best place for a good time by those of all ages4 ,the book is bright and up to date1 full of cheer and sunshine4 ,a good holiday book4--,religious ,telescope1 ,dayton1 ,ohio4 ,for those who want new games for the home this book supplies the very best--good1 clean1 hearty games1 full of fun and the spirit of laughter4--,n4,y4 ,times4 ,altogether the book is a perfect treasure-house for the young people's rainy day or social evening4--,new ,bedford ,standard4 ,the arrangement is excellent and the instructions so simple that a child may follow them4 ,a book like this is just the thing for social evenings4--,christian ,endeavor ,world4 ,a book giving the best1 cleanest and brightest games and tricks for home entertaining4--,syracuse ,herald4 ,the book is clearly written and should prove of value to every young man who aspires to be the life of the party4--,baltimore ,sun4 ,only good1 bright1 clean games and tricks appeal to ,mr4 ,chenery1 and he has told in the simplest and most comprehensive manner how to get up 'amusements for every one4'--,hartford ,courant4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for sale by all booksellers or sent on receipt of postpaid price by the publishers ,,lothrop1 ,,lee ,,shepard ,,co41 ,,boston 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's notes3 ,obvious punctuation errors corrected4 ,page #id1 bankets changed to blankets 7many blankets47 ,page #aja1 repent changed to repeat 7to repeat it74 ,page #aif1 ,bob changed to ,rob 7said ,rob4 ,i'll7 ,page #bbi1 ,molly changed to ,mollie4 7,well1 ,mollie promised to help him1 7you needn't bother to poke me1 ,mollie1 for ,i will tell7 and she did help him every day1 and after a while he began to help himself1 and last week his average on the exam4 was ninety-three4 ,wasn't that fine8 ,he never would have got that if ,mollie hadn't helped him4 ,mollie1 you were dear1 said ,dorothy4 ,and ,tess ,haughton is ever so much nicer than she was1 ,mollie said7 ,also on page #bea1 7and then turning to ,mollie74