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+Project Gutenberg's A Dear Little Girl at School, by Amy E. Blanchard
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Dear Little Girl at School
+
+Author: Amy E. Blanchard
+
+Release Date: May 25, 2009 [EBook #28966]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DEAR LITTLE GIRL AT SCHOOL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emanuela Piasentini and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+         A DEAR LITTLE
+         GIRL AT SCHOOL
+
+       _Amy E. Blanchard_
+
+         [Illustration]
+
+     WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO.
+       Racine, Wisconsin
+
+
+  Copyright, 1910, by George W. Jacobs & Co.
+
+  Printed in 1924 by
+  Western Printing & Lithographing Co.
+  Racine, Wis.
+
+  Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+COUSIN BEN
+
+
+Edna and Cousin Ben Barker were on the back porch. It was a favorite
+place, for it was always shady there in summer and out of the wind on
+cold days. If big Cousin Ben did not always like to be where Edna was,
+on the other hand Edna invariably sought out Cousin Ben if he were to be
+found about the premises.
+
+On this special afternoon he was doing something to his wheel, getting
+it in order for a long ride which he had planned for the next day. Edna
+stood watching him, ready to hand a tool or run for a piece of rag to
+be used in cleaning, or to fill the oil can from the bottle on the shelf
+upstairs.
+
+"Where are you going to-day, Cousin Ben?" Edna always asked this for
+Cousin Ben's replies were generally so funny.
+
+"I'm going to the woods," he said, "to see Johnny-jump-up."
+
+"Why will he jump up?" asked Edna in pleased expectancy of something
+amusing.
+
+"Because the dog-wood bark, you know."
+
+"I know dog-wood blossoms," returned Edna a little doubtfully.
+
+"Of course, and I dare say you know the dog-wood bark, too, don't you?"
+
+"Ye-es, I suppose so."
+
+Cousin Ben went on burnishing the metal he was at work upon. "You see,"
+he continued after a moment, "the catkins will all be out and when I
+meet one I shall say, 'Pussy, will oh, will you tell me the way to the
+elder Berries.'"
+
+"What do you suppose she will say?" inquired Edna settling herself well
+content to continue this sort of talk, though thinking it was scarcely
+the season for Pussy-willows.
+
+"She will say: 'The elder Berry? My dear boy, any dog ought to know the
+way there.' You see she knows I am a Barker."
+
+Edna laughed. "Go on."
+
+"And I will say, 'Yes, madam, but that sassy Fras always tries to get in
+my path. It is a very easy matter to whip poor Will, but sassy Fras is
+another matter.' Then she will ask: 'Did you ever try to haze L. Nutt?'
+and I will reply, 'Chestnuts!' for I don't like to talk about hazing,
+being in a position to expect a little of it any day. Well, Ande, I must
+be off or I will find Pip's sis away." Cousin Ben always called Edna
+Ande because he declared that was what her name really was but had been
+turned hind side before. Some persons, Edna's sister Celia and Agnes
+Evans, for instance, called Cousin Ben a very silly boy, but Edna
+thought his kind of nonsense great fun.
+
+It was an afternoon in autumn. For some time past, Edna and her sister
+had been going into the city to school every day, but this was the last
+week when this would be done, for after this they would go only on
+Mondays returning on Fridays till the days became long again. During the
+winter when it was still dark at seven in the morning, and when the
+afternoons were so short, it had seemed better that they should not come
+home every day. Therefore, as Aunt Elizabeth Horner and Uncle Justus
+wanted much to have them remain, it was so arranged. Edna was a great
+favorite with her Uncle Justus, for she had spent the winter previous at
+his house and had gone to his school. Then, on account of Mr. Conway's
+business, the family had removed from the town in which they had
+formerly lived and had taken a house a little out of the city.
+
+Like most children Edna loved the country and was glad of the change. A
+little further up the road lived her friend Dorothy Evans and her sister
+Agnes, the latter was a little older than Edna's sister Celia. All four
+girls attended Uncle Justus' school and so did Margaret MacDonald, the
+adopted daughter of good Mrs. MacDonald who lived in the big gray stone
+house with the lovely grounds. Margaret was having a pretty hard time of
+it, as she had never had much opportunity of going to school and was far
+behind the girls of her own age. Edna and Dorothy were her staunch
+defenders, however and when matters came to a too difficult pass the
+older girls were appealed to and could always straighten out whatever
+was wrong. Frank and Charlie, Edna's brothers, were almost too large for
+Uncle Justus' school, where only little fellows went, so they went
+elsewhere to the school which Roger and Steve Porter attended. It was
+Cousin Ben's first year at college, and he was housed at the Conways,
+his mother being an elder sister of Edna's mother.
+
+After seeing Cousin Ben start off, Edna left the porch and stood for a
+moment thinking what she would do next. This being the last time she
+would be at home for the entire week, she concluded she ought to make
+the most of it, but first she must get together such things as she
+should want for Monday. "Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons,
+and Monday, too. There are only four, after all," she said, counting the
+days on her fingers. "It seems very much longer when you first think of
+it." And then, as she continued to think, to her surprise she discovered
+that only Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays would be the entire days
+she would spend away from home.
+
+She was so interested in having found this out that she ran upstairs to
+her mother, to tell of it. "Mother," she said, "I have made a
+discovery."
+
+"You have, and what is it?" said Mrs. Conway.
+
+"Why, here I've been thinking I'd be away from you the whole week all
+but Saturday and Sunday, and now I find out I shall see you every day
+but three, 'cause, you know, I don't start till after breakfast on
+Monday, so that's one day. Then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I don't
+see you, but I get back in time for dinner on Friday, so there is
+Friday, Saturday and Sunday, three more days. Isn't it fine?"
+
+"Very, I think."
+
+"And the funny part is," Edna went on busily thinking, "I am at school
+five days out of the seven. It's almost like a puzzle, isn't it? I think
+I shall take Ada with me and leave her there. She is used to it, and
+won't mind as much as some of the other dolls, for she was there all
+last year and besides, Aunt Elizabeth gave her to me. Aunt Elizabeth is
+quite kind sometimes, isn't she?"
+
+"She means to be kind all the time, but she has rather a stern manner."
+
+"Did you used to be afraid of her when you were a little girl?"
+
+"No, honey, because I didn't know her. She is your papa's aunt, you
+know."
+
+"And he told me he didn't see much of her, for he lived in quite
+another place, and I suppose by the time he grew up he wasn't afraid of
+anybody. Well, anyhow, I'm glad it won't be 'butter or molasses' all the
+week."
+
+"What do you mean, dearie?"
+
+"Why, you know we couldn't have both and there were never any preserves.
+Sometimes there were stewed apples, the dried kind, and they were not so
+very bad when they were sweet enough and had a lot of lemon flavor in
+them. I used to ask Ellen to do them that way and she always would,
+except when Aunt Elizabeth was in the kitchen and then she had to do as
+Aunt Elizabeth told her. If you have more preserves than you can use,
+don't you think you could send her some, mother? You see we shall not be
+here to eat them, Celia and I, and you won't have to use so many."
+
+"That is an idea. Why, yes, I can send some in every week when you go,
+and Celia can tell Aunt Elizabeth to have them for your supper."
+
+"How will she tell her?" asked Edna, feeling that this was an ordeal
+that she would not like to go through.
+
+"Why, it will be very easy to say, 'Aunt Elizabeth, here are some
+preserves mother thought would be nice for supper to-night.' Don't you
+think that would be easy to say?"
+
+"Ye-es," returned Edna a little doubtful if this would have the proper
+effect. "I think myself it would be better to let Ellen have them or
+Uncle Justus."
+
+Her mother laughed. Edna's awe of Aunt Elizabeth was so very apparent.
+
+"There is one thing I wish you would promise," the little girl went on,
+"and that is, that you will always have hot cakes on Saturday mornings
+so I can have butter and syrup both."
+
+"I promise," replied her mother smiling.
+
+"I know Louis is mighty glad not to be going back," Edna continued, "and
+I'm rather glad he isn't myself, for this year I shall have Celia."
+
+"I thought you were fond of Louis."
+
+"I am pretty fond of him, but I'd rather have girls about all the time
+than boys all the time. Girls fuss with you, of course. They get mad and
+won't speak, but I'd liefer they'd do that than try to boss you the way
+boys do. Mother, there is another thing I wish you would do, and that is
+I wish you would tell Aunt Elizabeth that she will please let Dorothy
+come to play with me sometimes. Dorothy is my particular friend, you
+know, and Aunt Elizabeth will never allow me to have her visit me unless
+you say she can."
+
+"Did she never allow you to have company last winter?"
+
+Edna shook her head and a sigh escaped her.
+
+"I will arrange that Dorothy shall come," said her mother quite firmly.
+
+"It's going to be much nicer than last year," remarked Edna in a
+satisfied tone, "for I shall always have Celia to go to, and you will be
+so near, too, and besides I like Uncle Justus much better than I did at
+first."
+
+"Of the two I should think you would have more fear of Uncle Justus than
+of Aunt Elizabeth," said her mother looking down at her.
+
+"I did at first, but I found it was mostly on account of his eyebrows;
+they are so shaggy."
+
+Mrs. Conway smiled. "I have heard it said that he can be rather
+terrible," she remarked.
+
+"Oh, well, so he can, but he isn't all the time and Aunt Elizabeth is."
+
+"I hope this year you will find out that it is only Aunt Elizabeth's
+eyebrows, too."
+
+"It couldn't be, for she hasn't any to speak of," returned Edna. As she
+talked she was carefully packing the little trunk in which Ada's clothes
+were kept. It was a tiny trunk, only about six inches long. Aunt
+Elizabeth had made it, herself, by covering a box with leather and
+strapping the leather across with strips of wood glued on. Edna liked
+the trunk much better than a larger one which had been bought at the
+store. Aunt Elizabeth was very clever in making things of this kind and
+would sometimes surprise her little niece with some home-made gift which
+was the more prized because it was unusual. The child remembered this
+now and began to feel that she had not shown herself very grateful in
+speaking as she had done a moment before. "Mother," she said. "I didn't
+mean that Aunt Elizabeth was frightful all the time. She is very kind
+when she gives me things like this trunk."
+
+"You don't mean frightful," replied Mrs. Conway laughing, "you mean she
+is rather formidable."
+
+But that was too much of a word for Edna, though she did not say so.
+Having stowed away Ada's belongings, three frocks, two petticoats, a red
+hood and sacque, a blue dressing-gown and apron, she shut the lid. "I
+don't think I'll take her furs this week because she'll not need them,"
+she remarked, "and I don't think I will take any of my other dolls
+because I will be so glad to see them next Friday. Mother, if you come
+into town any time during the week will you come out to see us?"
+
+"If I have time I certainly shall."
+
+Edna gave a sigh of content. It was surely going to be much better than
+last year. "Mother," she said, changing the subject, "do you think
+Cousin Ben is silly?"
+
+"He can be rather silly but he can also be very sensible. He is silly
+only when he wants to tease or when he wants to amuse a little girl I
+know."
+
+"I like his silly better than some of the big girls's sillies. They
+giggle so much and aren't funny at all. I think he is very funny. He
+says such queer things about the trees and plants in the woods. He
+twists their names around so they mean something else. Like the
+dog-wood, bark, you know. Mother, what is hazing?"
+
+"It is the kind of thing the college boys do to those in a lower class;
+they play tricks on them which sometimes are really very cruel."
+
+"Do you mean they really hurt them?"
+
+"Sometimes they hurt them very much. I knew of one young man who was
+forced into a pond of water on an icy day in the fall, and who nearly
+died of pneumonia in consequence of the cold he took from having to be
+in his wet clothes so long."
+
+"Do you think they will do anything like that to Cousin Ben?"
+
+"I certainly hope not, though no doubt there will be some tricks played
+on him as he is a Freshman."
+
+Edna knew what a Freshman was but the matter of hazing was quite new to
+her and troubled her very much. Cousin Ben had gone out alone to the
+woods. Perhaps this very moment someone was lying in wait for him.
+
+Hastily setting away the doll and trunk she ran downstairs, put on her
+coat and hat and started up the road toward the woods nearest. She had
+no exact plan in her mind, but she knew Cousin Ben had probably gone to
+see one of his classmates who lived just beyond this piece of woods. The
+college was on the outskirts of the city and the dormitories were within
+easy walking distance, so that one was liable to see a group of college
+boys at almost any time. Edna trotted along hoping to overtake her
+cousin. She did not believe anyone would attack him unless he were
+alone, and she meant to keep him company on his return walk. Just as she
+reached the edge of the woods she came upon a group of Sophomores
+standing a short distance away and she heard one say. "We'll nab him as
+he comes out, boys."
+
+Who could they mean but Cousin Ben? She walked slowly that she might, if
+possible, hear more.
+
+"You're sure he came this way?" she heard another say.
+
+"Sure," was the reply. "We saw him go in Abercrombie's gate."
+
+That settled it in Edna's mind, for it was Will Abercrombie whose house
+Cousin Ben most frequented. She hesitated a moment, wondering what path
+her cousin would take, and then she remembered that the short cut was
+through the woods; it was much longer by the road. It was already
+getting rather late and it looked grim and gloomy in the woods, but
+there was nothing to do but face any danger and go straight ahead. She
+was crafty enough not to turn in at once for fear the boys might
+suspect, so she kept on a short distance to where the road turned and
+then she cut into the bit of forest scrambling up the bank and
+scratching her hands, with the brambles, but reaching the path in a few
+minutes. The further she went the darker it grew. The sun was setting
+and she could see long fingers of light between the trees. She wished
+she had some one with her, that Cousin Ben would appear before she went
+much further, but there was no sign of him and she plodded on, the dead
+leaves rustling about her feet or falling from overhead, giving her
+little starts of fear. It seemed a long, long way, and she almost wished
+she had not undertaken the work of rescue, but at last she saw, dimly
+ahead of her, a figure approaching and heard a cheerful whistling which
+she recognized as her cousin's. And she darted forward to meet him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE SECRET
+
+
+Cousin Ben striding along did not at first see the little girl, but at
+her calling "Cousin Ben, Cousin Ben," he stopped short.
+
+"Why, you little monkey, what are you doing here?" he said. "The
+bugaboos will catch you here in these dark woods."
+
+"There isn't such a thing as bugaboos," returned Edna stoutly, "and I
+should be very silly to think so, but something will catch you if you
+don't look out."
+
+"'The gob-e-lins will get you if you don't look out,'" replied Cousin
+Ben, laughing. "Is that what you are trying to say? If you are not
+afraid of bugaboos neither am I afraid of goblins. What do you think is
+going to get a big fellow like me?"
+
+"Why," said Edna at once becoming serious, "I will tell you; I heard
+some college boys talking back there by the edge of the woods."
+
+"You did? and what did they say?"
+
+"They said: 'We'll nab him as he comes out, boys.'"
+
+"Humph! What did they look like? Did you know any of them?"
+
+"The one who said that was John Fielding, and there was another that
+I've seen before. He sits back of our pew at church."
+
+"Sophs, both of them, and did you come all this way to tell me about
+it?"
+
+"Why, yes, I was afraid they wanted to haze you."
+
+"What do you know about hazing?"
+
+"Mother told me about a young man who nearly died of pneumonia because
+some of the boys doused him in cold water, in a pond or something."
+
+"And you didn't want me to have pneumonia. I won't on this occasion, I
+promise you. I think we can circumnavigate those fellows. I won't see
+Johnny-jump-up to-day."
+
+Edna laughed. "Won't they be disappointed?"
+
+"They will that. Now come along and let's get out of here."
+
+"Which way shall we go?"
+
+"Oh, we will take the back road and come out there below the MacDonald
+barn so they won't get a hint of our coming home, for the barn is below
+the woods, you know. It is a little further, but I hope you don't mind
+that."
+
+"No, indeed, I am so glad to have you get out of the way of those boys."
+
+"If I can manage to side-track them for a while perhaps they won't be so
+keen. I thought they had it in for me, and have been rather expecting
+an onslaught."
+
+They cut through the woods, coming out the other side and taking a short
+road not much used, which brought them out a little distance from the
+main road which was then easily reached. "Now we're safe," said Edna
+with satisfaction as she saw her own gate.
+
+"We? You don't suppose they'd haze you, do you?"
+
+"Oh, no, but I feel safer when I am near home."
+
+Ben dropped his bantering tone when they came up to the gate. "I say,
+Edna," he said, "you are a real Trojan to do this for me, and I shall
+not forget it in a hurry. Lots of big girls and boys, too, would have
+let the thing go, and not have taken the trouble. I am a thousand times
+obliged to you."
+
+"Oh, but I wanted to do it, you know. I should have been very unhappy
+if anything had happened to you."
+
+"I believe you would," returned Ben seriously; and they went in the
+house together.
+
+This was the last Edna heard of hazing and if Cousin Ben was ever caught
+he did not tell her or anyone else.
+
+Monday came around quite soon enough and Edna started off with her
+sister Celia to go to the city. It seemed quite natural to be back in
+the room which she had occupied the year before, only now Celia would
+share it with her. Ada was put in her old place on a little chair, her
+trunk by her side, and then the two girls went down to the school-room
+where a number of the pupils had already gathered. One of these was
+Clara Adams, a little girl whom Edna was sorry to see entering the
+school that year. She was a spoiled, discontented child who was
+continually pouting over some fancied grievance, and was what Dorothy
+and Edna called "fusty." For some reason she was always trying to pick a
+quarrel with Edna, and by the whispering which went on when Edna entered
+the room and the sidelong looks which were cast at her, as two or three
+girls, with hands to mouths, nudged one another, she felt sure that on
+this special occasion she was being talked about. However, she paid no
+attention to this little group but went over to where Dorothy was
+sitting and began to tell her about the preserves which Celia had
+successfully given in Ellen's charge.
+
+At recess the same group of girls which had been whispering in the
+morning, again gathered in one corner and began their talk in low tones.
+Clara Adams was in the centre and it was she to whom the others were all
+looking. Clara was a favorite because of her wealth rather than because
+of her disposition, and she had followers who liked to have it said that
+they were intimate with her.
+
+"What do you suppose they are talking about?" said Dorothy after a
+while.
+
+"I'm sure I don't know and what's more I don't care," replied Edna. "Do
+you care, Dorothy?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know; just a little, I think. See, they are going over and
+whispering to Molly Clark, and she is getting up and going over there. I
+wonder what it is all about."
+
+Edna wondered, too, but neither she nor Dorothy found out that day. The
+same thing went on the next day. One by one most of the girls whom Edna
+and Dorothy liked the best were seen to join the little company of
+whisperers, and whenever Clara Adams would pass the two friends she
+would give them a look as much as to say: Wouldn't you like to know
+what we know?
+
+"I think it is just horrid mean of them," said Dorothy when the next day
+came and they were no nearer to knowing the secret than they had been in
+the beginning.
+
+"I heard Molly say something about to-morrow afternoon," said Edna.
+"They are all going to do something or go somewhere. I am going to tell
+sister, so I am."
+
+"And I'll tell my sister. Maybe they know something about it, Edna."
+
+They lost no time in seeking out their sisters to whom they made known
+the state of affairs. "And they are getting hold of nearly all the
+nicest girls," complained Edna. "Molly Clark, and Ruth Cutting and all
+those. They haven't said anything to Margaret, for I asked her. She
+isn't here to-day."
+
+"Have you any idea what they are going to do?" Dorothy asked her sister.
+
+"I have an idea, but it may not be right."
+
+"Oh, tell us, do." The two younger girls were very eager.
+
+Agnes leaned over and said in a low voice, "I believe they are getting
+up some sort of club."
+
+"Oh!" This idea had never occurred to either of the little girls before.
+
+"And they don't want us in it," said Edna, "I wonder why."
+
+"It is all that horrid Clara Adams," declared Dorothy. "She is jealous
+of you because you always know your lessons and behave yourself, and she
+don't like me because I go with you and won't give you up for her."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Edna.
+
+"I know," returned Dorothy, and then she shut her lips very tightly.
+
+"All the girls used to like us," said Edna sadly.
+
+"Bless your dear heart," said Agnes drawing the child to her, "I
+shouldn't care. They will be sorry enough after a while, you may be
+sure, and will wish they had treated you two better. Celia, we mustn't
+let those little whippersnappers have it all their own way. Never you
+mind, children, we'll do something, too. Celia and I will talk it over
+and let you know to-morrow. You and Celia come up to our house Saturday
+afternoon and we'll see if we can get Margaret and perhaps one or two
+others. Now run along and let us talk over a plan I have."
+
+The two went off joyously, arms around one another. When Agnes
+championed their cause there was no more reason to be troubled, and they
+finished their recess in a corner by themselves quite content.
+
+There were not more than a dozen little girls in the class and when
+half of these had gone over to the enemy, and one or two were absent it
+left a very small number for Edna and Dorothy to count upon, but they
+did not care after the older girls had taken up their cause, and they
+cast quite as independent looks at Clara as she did at them. They would
+have a secret too. "And it will be a great deal nicer than theirs,"
+declared Dorothy. So when the bell rang they went back to their seats in
+a very happy frame of mind.
+
+The next day a new pupil appeared and at recess she was swooped down
+upon by one of Clara's friends and was borne away, but after a while she
+left the group and went back to her seat. Dorothy and Edna were out in
+the school yard playing, but when they came in the new scholar looked
+smilingly at Edna and after a while she made her way to where they were
+standing. "Isn't this Edna Conway?" she asked.
+
+"Yes, I'm Edna," was the reply from the little round-faced girl who
+smiled at her.
+
+"I'm Jennie Ramsey, and my mother told me to be sure to speak to you and
+tell you I was at the fair last year and I was so glad when you got the
+doll."
+
+"Oh, were you there?" Edna looked pleased. "I am so glad you have come
+here to school. This is Dorothy Evans."
+
+Jennie and Dorothy smiled at each other and Edna went on. "Dorothy don't
+you remember about Mrs. Ramsey who took so much trouble to get Margaret
+away from that dreadful woman? She must be a lovely mother, for she was
+so dear to Margaret."
+
+"Do tell me about her," said Jennie. "I have been so much interested,
+for mother told me all about how you ran against her in the street and
+how you won the doll for her and all about her being adopted so I did
+hope I should know you some day. I'd like to be friends, if you will let
+me."
+
+"Oh, I'd love to be," Edna spoke heartily, "and I am so glad you know
+about Margaret. She comes here to school, but of course she isn't very
+happy about having to be in the class with such little girls. Mrs.
+MacDonald is talking of getting a governess for her till she can catch
+up a little, but we shall be sorry to have her not come here."
+
+"Do you know Clara Adams?" Dorothy asked. "I mean did you know her
+before you came to school?"
+
+"Yes, I know her. She is in my Sunday-school class," returned Jennie,
+but she said nothing more, yet both the other two felt quite sure that
+there was no likelihood of Jennie's going over to the other faction.
+Then the bell rang and they all took their seats.
+
+"Don't you like her?" whispered Edna before Miss Ashurst had taken her
+place.
+
+Dorothy nodded yes, and glanced across at Clara who curled her lip
+scornfully.
+
+When school was dismissed Jennie and Dorothy walked home together. Agnes
+and Dorothy remained in the city during the week just as the two Conway
+sisters had begun to do. Edna sought her sister Celia after dinner when
+the two had their study hour. "Isn't it nice," said Edna, "Jennie Ramsey
+has come to school, and she is such a nice little girl. I heard Uncle
+Justus say once that Mrs. Ramsey was much wealthier than Mrs. Adams but
+that one never saw her making any pretence because of her money. What is
+pretence, sister?"
+
+"It is pretending, I suppose. I think he meant she didn't put on airs
+because of having money."
+
+Edna nodded. She quite understood. "Wasn't it lovely for Jennie to want
+to be friends? She said her mother told her to be sure to speak to me,
+and, oh, sister, we saw one of the other girls go over and try to get
+her to join Clara's set and she didn't stay but came over to us. She
+said she knew Clara but I don't believe she likes her. Did you and Agnes
+talk about, you know what?"
+
+"Yes, and we'll tell you but you mustn't ask me any questions now for I
+shall not answer. Now let us get to work or Aunt Elizabeth will be down
+on us for talking in study hour."
+
+Edna turned her attention to her books and in a moment was not thinking
+of anything but her geography.
+
+She could scarcely wait till the next day, however, when she and
+Dorothy should learn what Agnes had planned, but alas, she was not
+allowed this pleasure for Aunt Elizabeth called her from the school-room
+just at recess and took her down to see Miss Martin, the daughter of the
+rector of the church. Of course Edna was very glad to see Miss Martin,
+for she was very fond of her, but she did wish she had chosen some other
+day to call, and not only was Edna required to remain down in the parlor
+during the whole of recess but she was again summoned before she had a
+chance to speak a word to anyone at the close of school. This time it
+was to run an errand to the shop where an order had been forgotten and
+Edna was despatched to bring home the required article, Ellen being too
+busy to be spared.
+
+She felt rather out of sorts at having both of her opportunities taken
+from her. "I don't see why they couldn't have sent sister," she said to
+herself, "or why they couldn't do without rice for just this once. I
+should think something else would be better, anyway, for dessert than
+rice and sugar." But there was no arranging Aunt Elizabeth's affairs for
+her and when the dish of rice appeared Edna was obliged to eat it in
+place of any other dessert. Her ill humor passed away, however, when
+Uncle Justus looked at her from under his shaggy brows and asked her if
+she didn't want to go to Captain Doane's with him. This was a place
+which always delighted her, for Captain Doane had been all over the
+world and had brought back with him all sorts of curiosities. Moreover,
+there was always a supply of preserved ginger taken from a queer jar
+with twisted handles, and there was also an especially toothsome cake
+which the captain's housekeeper served, so Edna felt that the feast in
+store for her, quite made up for the poverty of a dessert of boiled
+rice and sugar.
+
+She wondered that Celia was not also asked to go, but she remembered
+that Celia did not know Captain Doane, and that probably she would think
+it very stupid to play with shells and other queer things while two old
+gentlemen talked on politics or some such dry subject. Therefore she
+went off very happily, rather glad that after all there was a pleasure
+for this day and one in prospect for the morrow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A SATURDAY AFTERNOON
+
+
+By Friday, Jennie, Dorothy and Edna had become quite intimate. Margaret
+was still kept at home by a bad cold, so these three little girls played
+at recess together joined by one or two others who had not been invited,
+or had not chosen, to belong to what the rest called "Clara Adams's
+set." There had been a most interesting talk with Agnes and Celia and a
+plan was proposed which was to be started on Saturday afternoon. Jennie
+had been invited to come, and was to go home with Dorothy after school
+to be sent for later.
+
+Edna was full of the new scheme when she reached home on Friday, and she
+was no sooner in the house than she rushed up stairs to her mother.
+"Oh, mother," she cried, "I am so glad to see you, and I have so much to
+tell you."
+
+"Then come right in and tell it," said her mother kissing her. "You
+don't look as if you had starved on bread and molasses."
+
+Edna laughed. "Nor on rice. I hope you will never have rice on
+Saturdays, mother."
+
+"Rice is a most wholesome and excellent dish," returned her mother. "See
+how the Chinese thrive on it. I am thinking it would be the very best
+thing I could give my family, for it is both nourishing and cheap.
+Suppose you go down and tell Maria to have a large dishful for supper
+instead of what I have ordered."
+
+Edna knew her mother was teasing, so she cuddled up to her and asked:
+"What did you order, mother?"
+
+"What should you say to waffles and chicken?"
+
+"Oh, delicious!"
+
+"But where is that great thing you were going to tell me?"
+
+"Oh, I forgot. Well, when we got to school last Monday, there was Clara
+Adams and all the girls she could get together and they were whispering
+in a corner. They looked over at me and I knew they were talking about
+me, but I didn't care. Then I went over to Dorothy and we just stayed by
+ourselves all the time, for those other girls didn't seem to want to
+have anything to do with us. We hadn't done one single thing to make
+them act so, but Clara Adams is so hateful and jealous and all that, she
+couldn't bear to have us be liked by anybody. Dorothy told me she heard
+her say I was a pet and that was the reason I got along with my lessons.
+You know I study real hard, mother, and it isn't that at all. Clara
+said it was just because Uncle Justus favored me, and told Miss Ashurst
+too. Wasn't that mean?"
+
+"I think it was rather mean, but you must not mind what a spoiled child
+like Clara says, as long as you know it isn't so."
+
+"That's what Agnes says. We told Agnes and Celia how the girls were
+doing and how they had a secret and didn't want us to be in it, so Agnes
+said we could have a secret, too, and she has planned a beautiful one,
+she and Celia. I will tell you about it presently. Well, then Jennie
+Ramsey came."
+
+"Jennie Ramsey? I don't think I ever heard you speak of her."
+
+"No, of course you didn't, for I only just became acquainted with her.
+Mother, don't you remember the lovely Mrs. Ramsey that did so much
+about getting Margaret into the Home of the Friendless?"
+
+"I remember, now."
+
+"Well, she is Jennie's mother, and she told Jennie to be sure to speak
+to me, because she knows Aunt Elizabeth, I suppose, but anyhow, she did.
+But first the Clara Adams set tried to get Jennie to go with them, but
+she just wouldn't, and so she's on our side. I know Clara is furious
+because the Ramseys are richer than the Adamses."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," Mrs. Conway interrupted, "this doesn't sound a bit
+like my little girl talking about one person being richer than another
+and about one little girl's being furious about another's making friends
+with whom she chooses."
+
+Edna was silent for a moment. "Mother," she said presently, "it is all
+Clara Adams's doings. If she wouldn't speak to us nor let the other
+girls play with us, why, what could we do?"
+
+"I really don't know, my darling, we'll talk of that directly. Go on
+with your story."
+
+"Well, so Agnes found out they were getting up a club and didn't want us
+in it, so she said we could have a club, too, and we're going to begin
+this afternoon--no, to-morrow afternoon. Mrs. Ramsey let Jennie go home
+with Dorothy to stay till to-morrow and she is going to send the
+automobile for her. She comes to school in the automobile every morning.
+I wish we had one then we wouldn't have to stay in town all the week."
+
+"Dear blessed child, I am afraid Clara Adams is turning your head."
+
+"Clara? why she doesn't even speak to me."
+
+"All the same you are beginning to care more for the things that are
+important to her than ever you did before. Never mind, we'll talk about
+that later. Is that all?"
+
+"It's about all, for we haven't had the club meeting yet. Agnes says she
+will start it and be the president for a month. Celia is going to be the
+secretary and when we know just what to do and how to carry it on then
+they will resign and some of us younger girls will be the officers."
+
+Mrs. Conway smiled to hear all this grown-up talk, but she looked a
+little serious a moment after.
+
+Edna watched her face. "Don't you approve of it, mamma," she asked
+anxiously.
+
+"Of the club? Oh, yes, if it is the right kind of one. I will ask Celia
+about it, but what I don't like is that you should start it in a spirit
+of trying to get the better of another girl, though I can see that it
+is the most natural thing in the world for you to feel as you do, and I
+can see that Clara has really brought it on herself, but I do want my
+dear little girls to be charitable and above the petty meanness that is
+actuating Clara."
+
+"Then what do you think we ought to do?"
+
+"I am not sure. I shall have to think it over. In the meantime by all
+means start your club. Where is Celia?"
+
+"She went out with the boys to look at the new pigeons, but I wanted to
+see you first."
+
+Edna enjoyed the prospect of chicken and waffles too much to long too
+ardently for the next day. She hadn't seen Cousin Ben yet so she went
+out to hunt him up, but discovering that he was hard at work over his
+studies she concluded not to disturb him but to go with the boys to hear
+them expatiate upon the qualities of the new pigeons, of the trade they
+had made with another boy and of various things which had been going on
+at their school.
+
+Great preparations were made for the first meeting of the club. In the
+Evans house was a large attic, one corner of which Agnes and Celia
+turned into a club-room. The house was an old-fashioned one, and the
+attic window was small. There was, too, an odor of camphor and of soap,
+a quantity of the latter being stored up there, but these things did not
+in the least detract from the place in the eyes of the girls. What they
+wanted was mystery, a place which was out of the way, and one specially
+set aside for their meetings. A small table was dragged out of the
+recesses of the attic. It was rather wobbly, but a bit of wood was put
+under the faulty leg, and it did very well. One perfectly good chair was
+brought up for the president, the rest were content to be seated on
+whatever came handy, two chairs very much gone as to backs, one with the
+bottom entirely through, and a rickety camp stool made up the remainder
+of the furniture, but Agnes had taken care that there were flowers on
+the table and that pens, pencils and paper were supplied. She also
+brought up some books "to make it look more literary," she said, and the
+organizers of the club were delighted.
+
+They came whispering and with suppressed giggles up the steep stairway,
+made their way between piles of trunks and boxes to where Agnes sat in
+state, a call-bell before her. Margaret, much bundled up, had been
+permitted to join them, so they were the respectable number of six.
+
+That morning the president and secretary had been closeted for an hour
+with Mrs. Conway and whatever they had determined upon in the beginning
+which seemed in the least unworthy was smitten from the plan.
+
+The girls disposed themselves upon the various seats, Celia taking a
+place at the end of the table provided for the officers. There was much
+stifling of laughter and suppressed whispers before Agnes tapped the
+bell and said in the most dignified manner, "The meeting is called to
+order." Then each girl smoothed down her frock and sat up very straight
+waiting to hear what should come next. "The real object of our club,"
+Agnes began, "is to find ways of being kind to our schoolmates, but we
+are going to do other things to entertain ourselves, things like
+bringing new games into the club and any new book we find particularly
+interesting. If anyone can write a story she is to do that, and if
+anyone hears anything particularly interesting to tell she is to save
+it up for the meeting. It has been proposed by Mrs. Conway that we call
+the club the Kindly Club or the Golden Rule. Celia, we'd better take a
+vote on the name. You might hand around some slips of paper and let the
+members write their choice. There is one thing about it; if we call it
+the Golden Rule Club, we can always refer to it as the G. R., and that
+will be rather nice, I think. However, you all must vote as you think."
+
+There were not quite enough pencils, but by judicious borrowing they
+made out and the slips were handed in and gravely counted by Celia.
+"There are four votes for Golden Rule, and two for Kindly," she
+announced.
+
+"Then it is a majority for Golden Rule, so the name of the club is the
+Golden Rule Club, or the G. R., whichever you choose to say when you are
+speaking of it. Now, let me see, oh, yes. We are the charter members.
+We haven't any charter but we can have one, I reckon. I'll get one ready
+for next time. Now, we must have rules. I haven't thought them all out,
+but I have two or three. We begin with the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others
+as ye would they should do unto you'; Mrs. Conway said we might head the
+list with that, for there was nothing better. Of course we all forget
+sometimes, but we mustn't any more than we can help. If we see a chance
+to do a kindness to any of our schoolmates we must do it, no matter if
+we don't like her, and we must try not to get mad with any of the girls.
+We must be nice to the teachers, too. You see it is a school club and
+affects all in the school. We big girls mustn't be hateful to you
+younger ones and you mustn't be saucy to us."
+
+"Oh, dear," sighed Edna, "it's going to be pretty hard, isn't it?"
+
+"I don't believe it is going to be as much fun as the other girls'
+club," complained Dorothy.
+
+"Oh, yes it is. You wait and see," said Agnes. "After a while everyone
+of them will be dying to come into ours."
+
+"Oh, Agnes, I don't believe a bit of that," said Dorothy.
+
+"Oh, but you see we are going to have very good times, you forget that
+part. The kind word part is only when we are having dealings with our
+schoolmates and all that. We don't have to do just that and nothing
+else. For example, I have the loveliest sort of story to read to you all
+just as soon as the business part of the meeting is over, and then we
+are to have refreshments."
+
+"Oh, good!" there was emphatic endorsement of this.
+
+"There ought to be fines, I suppose," Agnes went on. "Let me see, what
+shall we be fined for? I shall have to get some light upon that, too,
+but I think it would be a good plan that any girl who voluntarily stirs
+up a fuss with another at school must pay a fine of not less than one
+cent. What do you think of that, Celia?"
+
+"I should think that might be a good plan though I expect we shall all
+turn Quakers if we continue the club."
+
+Agnes laughed. "It does look that way. At all events we are to thank
+Clara Adams for it all. Her club is founded on unkindness and if we want
+to be a rival, Mrs. Conway says we must have ours founded on kindness."
+
+"Do you know anything about her club?" asked Jennie.
+
+"I know a little. I believe only girls who live in a certain
+neighborhood can belong to it. All others are to be turned down, and are
+to be left out of the plays at recess. It is something like that, I was
+told. However, we don't care anything about those poor little sillies.
+We shall enjoy ourselves much more. I think we'd better not attend to
+any business to-day or we shall not have time for anything else. Have
+you made the minutes, Celia?"
+
+"Yes, I think I have, and if I haven't everything I can get you to tell
+me afterwards."
+
+"I suppose we should vote for the officers," said Agnes, after a
+moment's thought.
+
+"Oh, no, don't let's," said Edna, anxious for the story. "We all want
+you for president and Celia for secretary, don't we, girls?"
+
+"All in favor of making Miss Agnes Evans president of the club will
+please rise," sang out Celia, and every girl arose to her feet. "That's
+unanimous enough," said Celia. "Now all in favor of my being secretary
+will please rise." Another unanimous vote followed this and so the
+matter was speedily settled.
+
+Then Agnes produced a manuscript paper and read them the most delightful
+of stories which was received with great applause. Then she whispered
+something to Dorothy who nodded understandingly, retired to the back of
+the attic and returned with two plates, one of delicious little cakes
+and the other of caramels to which full justice was done.
+
+"What about the places of meeting and the refreshments?" asked Celia.
+"It isn't fair for you always to furnish them and don't you think we
+should meet at different houses?"
+
+"Perhaps so, only you see it would be hard for us to go into the city on
+Saturdays after coming out on Friday, and you see Jennie lives in
+town."
+
+"Oh, but Mack can always bring me out in the motor car," said Jennie,
+"though of course I should love to have you all come in to my house and
+so would mamma like it."
+
+"Well, we'll meet at your house, Celia, the next time," said Agnes, "and
+after that at Mrs. MacDonald's. We can, can't we, Margaret?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I am sure she will be perfectly delighted. She is so pleased
+about the club, anyhow."
+
+"Then in the meantime we can be making up our minds about your house,
+Jennie," said Agnes.
+
+"I wish we had some little song or a sentence to close with," said
+Celia.
+
+"We can have. We can do all those things later. I think we have done a
+great deal for one day, don't you all think so?"
+
+"Oh, my, yes," was the hearty response. "It has been perfectly lovely."
+
+"We might sing, 'Little Drops of Water,' for this time," proposed Edna,
+"as long as we haven't any special song yet."
+
+"That will do nicely, especially that part about 'little deeds of
+kindness.' We're going to sing. All rise." And the meeting was closed,
+the members groping their way down the attic stairs which by now were
+quite dark. But the effect of the club was to be far-reaching as was
+afterward shown, though it was little suspected at the time of its
+formation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A THANKSGIVING DINNER
+
+
+The first direct effect of the club was far from pleasant to Edna, for
+she forgot all about studying a certain lesson, and did not remember
+about it till she and Dorothy met at school on Monday morning, and then
+she was overcome with fear lest she should be called upon to recite
+something of which she knew scarcely anything. However, by dint of peeps
+at the book between whiles, after devoting to it all the time she had
+before school was called to order, she managed to get through the
+recitation, yet not without many misgivings and a rapid beating of the
+heart when Miss Ashurst called upon her. Edna was always such a
+conscientious child about her lessons that Miss Ashurst rather
+overlooked the fact that upon this occasion she was not quite as glib as
+usual, and she took her seat with a feeling of great relief, determining
+that she would not forget her lessons another Saturday.
+
+There was more than one opportunity that day to exercise the rule of the
+G. R. Club, and the girls of the Neighborhood Club, as they called
+theirs, were a little surprised at the appearance of good-will shown by
+the others.
+
+"Oh, I know just what they are up to," Clara Adams told her friends;
+"they want to get in with us and are being extra sweet. I know that is
+exactly their trick. Don't you girls pay any attention to them. Of
+course we could let Jennie Ramsey in, because she lives on our street,
+but the others, we couldn't any more than we could Betty Lowndes or
+Jessie Hill."
+
+"Well, it seems to me if they are good enough for Jennie Ramsey to go
+with they are good enough for us," returned Nellie Haskell.
+
+"No, I'm not going to have them," replied Clara, "and if you choose to
+go over to them, Nellie Haskell, you can just make up your mind that
+I'll have no more to do with you." So Nellie succumbed although she did
+smile upon Dorothy when the two met and was most pleasant when Edna
+offered to show her about one of the lessons.
+
+Agnes advised that the girls make no secret of their club. "It is
+nothing to be ashamed of, I am sure," she said, "and if any of the girls
+want to join it I am sure they are quite welcome to." And indeed it did
+appeal so strongly to some of the older girls that before the week was
+out several new members were enrolled, and it was decided to change the
+time of meeting to Friday afternoon so that those in the city might have
+their convenience considered while the girls living in the country could
+easily stay in till a later hour.
+
+The little girls felt themselves rather overpowered by the coming into
+their ranks of so many older members, but on the other hand they felt
+not a little flattered at being important enough to belong to the same
+club, so as the rule worked both ways it made it all right, especially
+as Betty Lowndes and others were admitted and were no older than
+themselves.
+
+"They may have more in number," said Clara when she was told of how the
+club was increasing, "but we are more exclusive, my mother says."
+
+This remark made its impression as Clara intended it should, though
+Nellie looked wistfully across at where half a dozen little girls were
+joyously eating their lunch and discussing the good times the elder
+girls were planning. "You know," Agnes had told them, "if you want to
+become a junior branch of the same club it will be perfectly easy for
+you to do it. At the end of a month you can decide, though Helen Darby
+and Florence Gittings agree with me that there is no reason why we
+shouldn't all hang together. It will be more convenient for one thing
+and we can take turns in arranging the entertainment part. I don't see
+why we all shouldn't enjoy some of the same kind of things."
+
+"Oh, we'd much rather stay in," replied Edna. "At least I would."
+
+"I would! I would!" came from all the others.
+
+Although there is a high and marked difference between fifteen and
+eight or nine, in most matters, in this of the club there appeared to be
+a harmony which put them all on the same footing. The older sisters were
+more ready to help the younger ones with their lessons while the younger
+ones were more eager to run on errands or to wait on the older ones, in
+consequence there was a benefit all around.
+
+Of course Miss Ashurst and Mr. Horner were by no means unaware of what
+was going on and they smiled to see how pleasant an atmosphere prevailed
+in the school all except in the unfortunate Neighborhood Club which they
+would have gladly disbanded. "It will probably die of its own
+discontent," said Miss Ashurst to the principal, "I give it just three
+months to exist for the girls are dropping out one by one."
+
+Mr. Homer smiled and nodded his head. He was a man of few words yet
+very little escaped his keen eyes.
+
+The next meeting of the G. R.'s was even more successful than the first.
+A number of things were discussed and the little girls learned many
+things that they had not known before.
+
+"Suppose Clara Adams did want to come into the club or wanted to be
+friends I suppose we'd have to be kind to her," said Dorothy, a little
+regretfully.
+
+"Of course you'd have to be kind to her," said Helen Darby, "but you
+wouldn't have to clasp her around the neck and hang on her words, nor
+even visit her. One can be kind without being intimate."
+
+This was putting it in rather a new light and the little girls looked at
+one another. They had not easily distinguished the difference before
+this.
+
+"The same way about Mr. Horner," Helen went on, "you don't have to get
+down and tie his shoes, but if you do have a chance to do something to
+make things pleasanter for him, why just trot along and do it." And
+Helen nodded her head emphatically.
+
+"Dear oh, me," sighed Florence, "we are getting our standards way up. I
+should probably fall all over myself if I attempted to do anything for
+him. I am almost scared to death at the mere thought."
+
+"He won't bite you," replied Helen, "and you don't have to get close
+enough to him to comb his eyebrows. What I mean is that we can 'be
+diligent and studious' as the old copy-books used to have it, speak well
+of his school, and not carry tales home that will make our families
+think we are martyrs and that he is an ogre, or someone to be feared
+constantly."
+
+"Helen Darby! I'd like to know who has been giving you all these new
+ideas," said Florence.
+
+"Why, I think Mrs. Conway started them by the way she talked to Agnes,
+and I have a modest claim to some brains of my own, so I thought out the
+rest and talked it over with father who put things very clearly before
+me, and showed me that school-girls are half the time silly geese who
+seem to think their teachers are created for the mere purpose of making
+their lives miserable. Father said that the shoe was usually on the
+other foot, and that the girls were much more liable to make the
+teachers' lives miserable. That set me a-thinking. Let me remark in
+passing that father says he thinks our club is great, and he wants to
+have a hand in furnishing the entertaining some time."
+
+This announcement made quite a ripple of excitement, for Mr. Darby did
+nothing by halves and it was expected that there would be a good time
+for the G. R.'s when they met at Helen's house.
+
+Edna kept in mind what had been said about Uncle Justus and before very
+long came an opportunity to prove her powers of doing him a kindness. It
+was just before Thanksgiving that Mrs. Conway came in one Thursday
+afternoon to see Aunt Elizabeth and of course her own two little
+daughters as well. Edna sat very close to her mother on the sofa, her
+hand stroking the smooth kid glove she wore.
+
+It was a queer thing to have her mother for company, but it was very
+delightful, too.
+
+"I hope you and Uncle Justus can come out to take Thanksgiving dinner
+with us," said Mrs. Conway to her aunt.
+
+"Thank you, my dear, but I am afraid it is impossible," was the
+response. "I long ago promised to go to sister Julia's, and hoped
+Justus would go, too, but he insists that he cannot possibly take the
+time, for it is something of a trip. He says he has some school papers
+he must attend to, and moreover, has promised to address a meeting in
+the afternoon, so that it will be impossible."
+
+"I am very sorry," returned Mrs. Conway, "for we had quite counted on
+you both. Perhaps Uncle Justus can take the time to come to us even if
+he cannot go so far as Aunt Julia's."
+
+Mrs. Homer shook her head. "I am afraid not, but you can ask him. Julia
+will be greatly disappointed, but you know Justus is nothing if not
+conscientious and if he has made up his mind he ought not to go, nothing
+will alter his decision."
+
+"What time is his meeting?" asked Mrs. Conway.
+
+"At half past two, I believe."
+
+"Oh, dear, then I am afraid it will be difficult for him to get to us,
+or rather to get away. We are to have dinner at two rather than in the
+evening, partly on account of the children and partly on account of the
+maids, to whom I have promised the time after they have finished the
+necessary work. There is a train at two-forty-five, but that would be
+too late, and it takes nearly an hour by the trolley cars."
+
+"Then I am afraid he will have to dine alone," said Mrs. Horner, "I
+don't suppose he has ever done such a thing in his life as that, but it
+cannot be helped. Julia has few opportunities of seeing her family and
+he insists that I must not think of disappointing her on his account."
+
+Edna listened very soberly to all this, and when it was learned later
+that nothing could alter Uncle Justus's decision, she felt very sorry
+for him. She took occasion to open up the subject herself that
+afternoon. "Uncle Justus," she asked, "did you ever eat Thanksgiving
+dinner alone?"
+
+Uncle Justus looked at her over his spectacles. "Well, no, I cannot say
+that I ever did."
+
+"Shall you like to do it?"
+
+"No, I do not believe I shall particularly enjoy it, but duty must come
+before pleasure, you know."
+
+"I wish you were going to have dinner with us."
+
+"That would be very agreeable to me, but I fear I cannot think of it
+upon this occasion."
+
+Edna sighed. She had hoped he might reconsider it. When he had left the
+room she went out into the kitchen to see Ellen of whom she was very
+fond. "Ellen," she said "are you going to stay in and cook Uncle
+Justus's Thanksgiving dinner for him?"
+
+"I am thot. It'll not be much of a job I'll be havin' ayther."
+
+"Why! Isn't he going to have a real Thanksgiving dinner?"
+
+"She was tellin' me this mornin' thot it would be aisy, and I cud have
+me afthernoon the same as usual, for he'd not be in. Says she, 'a bit av
+a chicken will do and ye can make a pumpkin pie the day before, so what
+with a few pertaties and a taste of stewed tomats he'll do bravely."
+
+"Oh dear!" Edna sighed again as she thought of all that would be served
+at her own home table. Her little face wore a very serious and troubled
+look every time she looked at Uncle Justus that evening and the next day
+at recess she unburdened her heart to Dorothy and Jennie. These three
+always ate their lunch together and they took this opportunity for many
+a confidence.
+
+"Girls," Edna began smoothing down her frock and folding her hands. "I
+have a chance to do Uncle Justus a kindness and I can't make up my mind
+to do it. I'm afraid I'm awfully selfish."
+
+Dorothy laughed. "I'd like to see anybody who's less so, wouldn't you,
+Jennie?"
+
+"I certainly would. Edna, tell us about it."
+
+"Well, you see Uncle Justus has things to do so he can't go with Aunt
+Elizabeth to her sister's and he hasn't even time to come to us for
+Thanksgiving, and he will have to eat his dinner all alone,
+unless--unless I stay and keep him company."
+
+"Oh Edna, and you couldn't be with your family last year because you
+were here." Dorothy's tones were almost awe-stricken.
+
+"I know, and of course I am dying to be at home, and that's where the
+being selfish comes in, I keep thinking how I should hate to eat my
+dinner alone and every time I look at Uncle Justus I feel so sorry for
+him I can hardly stand it, then when I think of not going home I feel so
+sorry for myself I can scarcely stand that."
+
+Both girls were silent. They saw the opportunity for heroic sacrifice as
+well as Edna did, but they could not advise her either way; it was too
+weighty a question, though Jennie ventured, "If he is going to be busy
+all the time you would be all by yourself except at dinner."
+
+"Yes," Edna nodded, "and Ellen is going out after she gets the dishes
+done, but I suppose I could go home after that. She could put me on the
+trolley and I'd get home in an hour. I thought about that."
+
+"So, then it wouldn't be like staying all day, would it?" said Dorothy,
+brightening a little as she saw this much light upon the matter.
+
+"Yes, of course that would make a great difference," returned Edna.
+
+"Or," Jennie had a sudden brilliant thought. "Oh, Edna, I wonder if you
+couldn't come to my house and stay all night with me. I should be so
+delighted to have you and I know mother would, too. We aren't to have
+our Thanksgiving dinner till six, so you could have two."
+
+Edna looked quite happy as this plan was suggested. What girl of nine
+does not delight in such an experience as spending the night with a
+friend? The thought of two Thanksgiving dinners, though one might be
+rather a frugal one, had its charm, too. "I think that would be
+perfectly lovely," she said, then after a moment's thought, "but you
+must ask your mother first and I'll ask mine."
+
+"I'll ask her as soon as I go home and will tell you at the club meeting
+this afternoon, and then you can ask your mother when you get home and
+let me know on Monday. I just know what mother will say before I ask
+her."
+
+Then the bell rang and recess was over, but Edna returned to her lessons
+very happy at this solution of what had been a matter of deep thought.
+It turned out just as Jennie had prophesied, for she brought a veritable
+invitation to Edna that afternoon in the shape of a little note, and she
+further said that Mrs. Ramsey meant to make sure by writing a formal
+request to Mrs. Conway, therefore Edna considered the matter as good as
+settled.
+
+She was full of the subject that afternoon when she reached home. It was
+quite dark although she and the others had taken the train which brought
+them more quickly. The club meetings were so interesting that it was
+hard to get away in time, but Mrs. Conway was on the watch as the girls
+came in the gate. Of course Edna had told Celia about all this, and
+indeed it had been talked over at the club, all the girls agreeing that
+it was a perfectly lovely thing for Edna to do, so she came in quite
+exalted by all the approval.
+
+However, when she told her tale and her mother saw that it was a case of
+genuine desire to do a good deed, and that in the beginning it had
+appeared in the light of a heavier sacrifice than could be made easily,
+she felt that she could allow the child to do as she wished, being sure
+that it was not in a spirit of self-righteousness. And so, on the
+evening before Thanksgiving after Uncle Justus had returned from seeing
+Mrs. Horner safely on her journey to her sister's, he saw a little
+figure watching for him at the window.
+
+"Well, well, well, little girl," he said, "how is this? I thought you
+would have been at home before now."
+
+"I'm not going till Friday," replied Edna smiling up at him. "I'm going
+to stay and have Thanksgiving dinner with you."
+
+"What? What? What?" Uncle Justus frowned and shook his head, but he took
+off his spectacles and wiped them very vigorously.
+
+"Yes, I am." Edna was very decided. "Mother said I might, and oh, Uncle
+Justus, she knew Aunt Elizabeth would be away and she thought maybe you
+and I would like some of our Thanksgiving, so she has sent some of her
+goodies, and we're going to have a lovely time. I am going to help Ellen
+set the table and wipe the dishes."
+
+"But, my child, I cannot allow it. No, no, no."
+
+"Oh, but, please." The more Uncle Justus denied, the more anxious was
+Edna.
+
+"But, my child, it would be selfish and inconsiderate of me in the
+extreme to take you away from your family on a holiday. I know what it
+means to little people to have such treats, and to an old fellow like me
+it will not make such a difference."
+
+"But you told me you had never had a Thanksgiving dinner alone."
+
+"That is quite true, but it is no reason why I should call upon a little
+girl like you to give up the holiday to me."
+
+"Don't you want me to stay?" asked Edna wistfully, and feeling a little
+hurt lest after all, her sacrifice was not really needed.
+
+Then Uncle Justus did a rare thing. He sat down, put his arm around her
+and kissed her on the cheek. "My dear little girl," he replied, "if that
+is the way you feel, I can only say that I am delighted beyond measure
+that you want to stay, and you will give me a greater cause for
+thanksgiving than I have expected or deserved," and he drew her to his
+knee.
+
+Edna smiled as she wondered what Florence Gittings, or any of the other
+girls, for that matter, would say if they could see her then so
+extremely near the fierce eyebrows.
+
+"But what will you do in the afternoon?" asked Uncle Justus after a
+moment. "I must go out early, you see."
+
+"I know that. At first I thought I would get Ellen to put me on the cars
+to go home. It would be quite safe, for I have gone so many times, but
+Jennie Ramsey and her mother have invited me to come there to stay all
+night. I'll come back here on Friday, if you would like me to, Uncle
+Justus. I could stay till Aunt Elizabeth comes home."
+
+Uncle Justus was silent for a moment. He smoothed her hair thoughtfully
+and then he said gently. "Your mother very kindly has asked me to spend
+the week end with you all, so suppose we go out together on Friday
+afternoon. I can take my papers with me and do my necessary work on
+Saturday there as well as here. Your little club meets on Friday
+afternoon, doesn't it? I will meet you and Celia at the station in time
+for the four-thirty train, which is the one you usually take, isn't it?"
+
+Edna was surprised that Uncle Justus should know all this about the club
+and the time of their going home, but she didn't say so. "I think that
+will be a very nice plan," she told him. "I'll come back here on Friday
+morning and have dinner with you, and then I can go to the club meeting.
+It is to be at Helen Darby's this time, and that is very near, you
+know." The twilight gathered about the two and in the dim light Uncle
+Justus did not appear in the least a person to stand in awe of, for when
+Ellen came to call them to supper she was surprised to see the little
+girl still sitting on the old man's knee, his arm around her and her
+head on his shoulder.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+IN A BLIZZARD
+
+
+The enjoyment of helping Ellen, of setting the table and of being
+consulted on such important subjects as whether the best china and the
+finest tablecloth should be used almost made up to Edna for being away
+from home on Thanksgiving day. The basket sent by Mrs. Conway contained
+several things which made the dinner much more of a feast than it would
+otherwise have been, for there was a jar of tomato soup, a small chicken
+pie with scalloped leaves and little balls of crust on top, some
+delicious pickles, a glass of currant jelly and another of cranberry
+sauce. Margaret had brought in a bunch of cut flowers from Mrs.
+MacDonald's greenhouse, the day before and these set in the middle of
+the table were a lovely ornament.
+
+"It's the foinest lookin' table iver I saw in this house," said Ellen
+when Edna called her in to see. "What was it yez were sayin' about thim
+little toasty crusts for the soup. I'd be afther makin' thim if I cud
+know wanst."
+
+"Oh, I can tell you just how," said Edna, "for I have watched our cook
+make them." She felt very important to be overseeing this piece of
+cookery and went in to call her uncle, feeling very much pleased at what
+had been accomplished.
+
+"Well, well, well," exclaimed Uncle Justus, "this does look like holiday
+times. Who did all this?"
+
+"Ellen and I," Edna told him, "and it was lots of fun."
+
+Uncle Justus nodded. "I dare say," he said with a smile, as he sat
+down.
+
+It was really a merrier repast than Edna had ever eaten under that roof,
+for instead of eating his dinner in silence as he generally did, Uncle
+Justus was quite talkative and actually attempted to joke once in a
+while. When Ellen was taking away the plates before she served the
+dessert, the old gentleman arose. "I think," he said, "that this is just
+the occasion to open that jar of ginger Captain Doane sent me awhile
+ago." So he went to his own special cupboard, unlocked the door and
+brought forth the wicker bound ginger jar which had been there several
+weeks, and it is safe to say Edna was given her share.
+
+"A famous dinner," said Uncle Justus as he rose from the table. "I can't
+remember that I ever had a pleasanter one, and I have you to thank for
+it, my dear. Now, I am afraid I shall have to go to my meeting, but I
+know you have an agreeable plan for the evening, so I do not feel the
+reluctance in leaving that I should otherwise."
+
+Edna helped him on with his overcoat, handed him his walking stick and
+saw him off, standing in the door, and hoping he would look back. He did
+this giving her a smile and nod as she waved her hand. Then she went
+back to Ellen and together they did the dishes very carefully. After
+this both must get dressed, and an hour later they were about to start
+when the bell rang and Ellen opened the door to Jennie Ramsey.
+
+"I thought I'd just come for you in the motor car," she said. "Mother
+said Mack could take us for a little ride in the fresh air so we would
+have a better appetite for dinner."
+
+This was quite exciting, for Edna's opportunities for riding in an
+automobile were not many.
+
+The magnificence of the Ramsey's dinner far outdid Aunt Elizabeth's, but
+Edna did not enjoy it one whit the more, although it was very delightful
+to be served by a man in livery, and to have such exquisite china and
+glass to look at during the meal. The child felt a little shy in the
+presence of so many strangers, and had little to say. Moreover, she had
+too often been told by Aunt Elizabeth that "little children should be
+seen and not heard" for her not to remember she must not chatter. Really
+the best time came when she and Jennie went up to bed when Jennie showed
+her all her treasures, her pretty room and her rows of books. They
+became very confidential as they snuggled down under the covers, and
+when Mrs. Ramsey came in to kiss them both good-night, Edna felt much
+happier than had seemed possible she could be when she first considered
+that she must spend the day and night away from her mother.
+
+The club meeting at Helen Darby's the next day was a fine affair, too,
+for Mr. Darby had provided an entertainment which pleased them all. A
+wonderful juggler did all sorts of curious tricks and a young man sang
+the drollest of songs. Then, too, the refreshments were unusually good.
+It had been made an inviolable rule that not more than three articles
+were to be served, but when there were ice cream, delicious cakes and
+bon-bons, surely these were quite enough.
+
+"You see," said Helen in explanation, after some of the girls had
+protested, "father said this was a holiday meeting and it might be a
+little more elaborate, he thought."
+
+Uncle Justus took Edna and Celia home that evening, and if he did not
+enjoy his visit it was not the fault of the girls. It is probable the
+old gentleman had rarely had such attentions and such a fuss made over
+him. He was invited to the Evans's to supper on Saturday and to Mrs.
+MacDonald's to dinner on Sunday. He was taken to drive; he was invited
+to walk, and really was quite overcome by all this thought of him from
+the members of the G. R. Club.
+
+Monday morning saw everyone but Celia back at school. Celia having had
+too much Thanksgiving, or too much something was not able to go, and
+indeed, had to remain at home for the entire week, and it seemed very
+much like the old days to Edna when she had to stay at Uncle Justus's
+without her sister. Aunt Elizabeth returned home on Monday afternoon,
+quite "smoothed out" Edna told her mother afterward. So the week sped
+along in the old way till Friday afternoon.
+
+It had begun to snow a little when Edna started out to the club meeting
+which was held at Florence Gittings's. The little girl had no fear,
+however, for she expected to meet Dorothy and Agnes and go home with
+them, but for some reason neither was present. Later on it was learned
+that Mr. Evans had called for them at their aunt's and had taken them
+home fearing a heavy storm would prevent their going later. A telegram
+which they sent to Edna at Florence Gittings's was not delivered till
+after the child had left the house.
+
+"You aren't going off by yourself," said Florence when the club meeting
+was over. It had seemed rather a poor little affair after the brilliancy
+of Helen's entertainment, and with both Agnes and Celia missing. However
+they had all done their best, but it broke up rather earlier than
+usual.
+
+"Oh, I must go," said Edna. "I am sure Agnes and Dorothy will be at the
+railway station, and we can all go out together."
+
+"But it is snowing so hard and the wind is making the snow drift,"
+continued Florence.
+
+"Oh, but the cars go all the way to the station. I won't have to walk,
+and very likely mother will send one of the boys, Cousin Ben, perhaps,
+to meet me."
+
+"I wish we had a telephone," said Florence, "but we haven't, and I
+suppose you can telephone from the station if you want to."
+
+"I might do that," said Edna.
+
+"I think you'd better go back to your Uncle Horner's," suggested Helen.
+
+"Oh, but--" Edna did not want to do this. A whole week at the school
+without Celia was about all she thought she could stand. "I shall do all
+right," she insisted. "I'm sure the girls will be at the station." So
+the others saw her depart without urging her further.
+
+Owing to the snow which was drifting heavily, the cars were running much
+more slowly than usual, and when Edna reached the station her train had
+just gone. It was the train her father always took and she had hoped to
+see him. She decided to telephone and took out her purse to see what
+money she had. Alas! she had but ten cents, not enough for an
+out-of-town toll. She had her school ticket fortunately. Celia was the
+one who always carried the money for the expenses, and Edna remembered
+that her mother had told her to be sure to provide herself with enough.
+"If you find you run short," she told the child, "either send down to
+your father for some change or borrow it from Aunt Elizabeth."
+
+Edna would rather have done almost anything than borrow from Aunt
+Elizabeth and she had forgotten to look in her purse anyhow, before
+starting. "Even if I had," she told herself, "I would have thought I had
+enough for I didn't expect to need anything but car fare." The next
+train would leave at five, but as it was a short run Edna thought she
+might venture to take it, even though it might be dark when she reached
+the station. She could telephone to the house from there, if necessary.
+So she waited patiently till it should be time for her train to be ready
+and then she went out and took her seat. It was snowing desperately hard
+she noticed as they moved along, and the train stopped frequently, but
+at last she reached her own station and got off feeling very thankful to
+be this near home. She looked around; not a soul was there to meet her.
+She would have to telephone. She turned toward the waiting-room, but to
+her consternation found the door locked.
+
+There was not a soul in sight. She stood still for a while. It was
+getting colder, and the snow was drifting and swirling around at a great
+rate. What should she do? The station master had probably gone home to
+his supper, for there were no more trains till nearly six o'clock from
+either direction. He had not counted on his presence being needed
+between whiles once he had seen to his freight and baggage, and he had
+gone to the back of the building where he lived.
+
+It was not more than a ten minutes' walk to her home in good weather,
+and Edna at last thought she would venture. She pulled her hat down over
+her ears and her coat collar up around her neck and started. It was
+desperate walking here in the country where the sharp wind seemed to
+search out every unprotected part of the body. The snow nearly blinded
+her, and cut her face like a knife. Every little while she had to stop
+to get breath, and as she found the difficulties increasing she thought
+of all the stories she had heard of persons perishing in the snow a few
+yards from their own door-ways. "I wish I had gone back to Uncle
+Justus," she murmured. "Oh, dear, I don't believe I will ever get
+there."
+
+The whiteness of the snow made it possible for her to see a little of
+the way when she first started, but as she went on and it grew darker
+she began to wonder if she were in the road. She brushed away the
+stinging flakes and looked around, peering into the darkness gathering
+around her. Through the blinding, hurrying flakes she could see
+twinkling lights here and there, and presently she located the piece of
+woods just beyond her own home, but it was far to the left, and she
+realized that she had turned into a by-road instead of keeping to the
+main one. The tears began to course down her cheeks when she appreciated
+how far she was from her own house. "I can never go back," she sobbed.
+"I can't. I am so cold and so tired, I'm afraid I can't get there. It
+would never do to stand still," she realized and presently she made up
+her mind to struggle on toward the nearest light a little ahead.
+
+She bowed her head again and pressed on through the drifts, feeling her
+strength would do no more than get her to this refuge. At last it was
+reached, a little house, by the wayside, a tiny garden in front and a
+small cow-shed behind. Managing to get the gate open, Edna went upon the
+porch and knocked at the door.
+
+It was opened by a little girl about her own age. "Why," she exclaimed,
+"who is it? I thought you were mother. Come right in out of the storm.
+Isn't it a dreadful one?"
+
+Edna, scarce able to speak, tottered into the room, warm from a bright
+fire in a base-burner stove and cheerful by reason of a lighted lamp.
+
+"You are all covered with snow," the little girl went on. "Do come to
+the fire and take off your hat and coat. You must be nearly frozen and I
+expect your feet are wet and cold. I'll take off your shoes."
+
+She stooped down and began to unfasten the snowy shoes after removing
+the rubbers Edna had been fortunate enough to have put on.
+
+In a moment the wanderer was able to tell her story, and to thank her
+little hostess for her attentions. "I don't know what I am going to do,"
+she said. "I'm afraid I can't get home, and there isn't any way to send
+them word to come for me. Of course they will think I have stayed in
+the city. If I had known how bad the storm was going to be I would never
+have started, but I did want to see my mother."
+
+"And I want to see my mother," replied her hostess. "She went down the
+road this morning to see my aunt who is ill, and she was coming back on
+this train that got in a little while ago, the train you must have come
+on."
+
+"I didn't see anyone get off," Edna told her, "only two or three men who
+got into a wagon and drove off before I left the station. Most everyone
+I know comes out on the train before that, but I missed it, you see."
+
+"Well, I am very glad to have you here," said the other. "If mother did
+not come on that train she won't come at all, I am sure, for the next
+ones don't stop at my aunt's station, and I should have been here all
+alone. What is your name?"
+
+"My name is Edna Conway, and I live on the main road just this side of
+that piece of woods you see after you pass Mrs. MacDonald's. Hers is the
+big gray house with the greenhouses, you know."
+
+"Oh, yes I know it very well. My name is Nettie Black. My mother and I
+live here just by ourselves since my father died."
+
+"Oh," Edna felt very sorry that Nettie was fatherless, but she did not
+know exactly what to say about it. "Will your mother be worried about
+your being here alone?" she asked after a moment.
+
+"I s'pose she will, but it can't be helped. I know she would have come
+if she could. I only hope my aunt isn't worse. I wish she could know I
+am not to be alone."
+
+"And I wish, my mother knew I was safe," returned Edna. "I am sure,
+though, that she thinks I am at my uncle's in the city, and I hope she
+does think so."
+
+"Are you quite warm, now?" asked Nettie. "If you are we will have some
+supper."
+
+"Oh, you are very kind," returned Edna a little embarrassed. "I think it
+is very hard on you to have me come in this way like a stray cat."
+
+Nettie laughed. "I like stray cats, and we always take them in. There is
+a lovely one in the kitchen, now, that we make a great pet of. He came
+to us so thin and miserable, but now he is as fat as butter."
+
+"I'd love to see him," returned Edna, "and won't you let me help you get
+supper?"
+
+"There isn't so very much to get," returned Nettie a little
+shamefacedly. "There is only bread and butter and what is left of the
+rice-pudding I had for dinner. We could toast the bread, and there's
+milk. If you don't mind my taking part of the milk for it, I could have
+milk-toast and we could drink cambric tea."
+
+"I like cambric tea," replied Edna, "and I am very fond of milk-toast.
+Oh, dear, I am so thankful to be here instead of out in the cold."
+
+"I am thankful, too. I'll go out and make the toast. Will you come?"
+
+Edna was pleased enough to do this, to make the acquaintance of the big
+black cat, and to help make the toast. "I don't see how you will ever
+know how to make the dip part," she said to Nettie.
+
+"Oh, but I do know. Mother taught me, and I can do it very well. The
+great thing is not to let the milk burn and to put in only the least
+little bit of thickening."
+
+Edna watched the process admiringly. Nettie was so very expert and
+bustled around like an experienced housekeeper. The house was very
+small, only two rooms downstairs and two up, with an attic over all, but
+everything was neat and clean, and the dishes, of course, were set out
+in an orderly manner upon a white tablecloth. The dish of smoking toast
+flanked by the rice pudding made an excellent meal. Nettie poured the
+tea and served her guest in the most hospitable way. They ate their meal
+in the front room before the fire, and now that she was warmed and was
+no longer hungry, Edna began to be interested in her surroundings. It
+was a plainly furnished room, a faded carpet on the floor, an
+old-fashioned sofa against one wall, a claw-footed mahogany table
+against the other, a bookcase between the windows. One or two engravings
+hung on the wall and a dingy portrait in an old frame. The chairs
+matched the sofa, one being a comfortable rocker with cover of
+haircloth.
+
+After they had washed the supper dishes, Nettie made ready for the night
+by putting more coal on the fires and carefully barring the shutters and
+doors below. Then with a small lamp in her hand she escorted her guest
+to the upstairs room. It was rather chilly and was also plainly
+furnished, though the old-fashioned four-poster bed was made up neatly,
+and the high bureau showed a clean cover. The wind howled and whistled
+around the house, the sharp snow crystals clicked against the panes, but
+as Edna crept under the covers she could feel only thankful that she had
+this shelter and was soon asleep with Nettie beside her already in the
+land of Dreams.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+COUSIN BEN TO THE RESCUE
+
+
+The next morning when Edna opened her eyes she saw a white world. Trees,
+fences, roofs, were covered with snow. It was banked up in great drifts
+along the road. The path to the gate was so deeply snowed under that it
+was an impossibility to think of getting from the house. At the back it
+was no better. The two little girls looked rather sober.
+
+"I wonder if mother can get home to-day," was the first thought in
+Nettie's mind, and, "I wonder if I can get home to my mother," was that
+in Edna's.
+
+It seemed rather forlorn to think of facing the day without some older
+person, but Nettie bravely went to work to do her best. First she went
+down into the cellar for coal which she lugged up to put on the two
+fires. Edna came down to find her busily taking up the ashes.
+
+"Oh, how do you know what to do to make the fires burn?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, I know, for mother has told me, and I often do this for her. The
+kitchen fire is easy enough but it is hard to lift the coal bucket up
+high enough to get the coal into the other stove."
+
+"I can help," said Edna. So together they managed.
+
+"Now, I must see what there is for breakfast," said Nettie. "I think
+there are two eggs, and the hens must have laid more, but I can't get
+out to hunt them till a path is made. I think there is still a little
+milk, for it didn't take much for the cambric tea, and we can have more
+of that. Then there is bread enough and butter. We can boil the eggs."
+
+This they did, Edna watching the clock very carefully to see that they
+were not over done. They concluded to toast the bread, and made a pretty
+fair breakfast, though it was not a very hearty one, Edna thought. There
+was a little of the milk toast left which they warmed up to give to the
+cat who must miss his morning's milk, as the milkman had not appeared.
+
+"I don't suppose he will get here at all," said Nettie a little
+anxiously. She was wondering what she could give her guest for dinner if
+it should be so that her mother did not return. She set to work in a
+very housewifely way to tidy up the house, Edna helping all she could.
+Then they stationed themselves by the window to see if by any chance
+there might be someone coming along whom they could hail. But the road
+was not much frequented and there was not a footstep nor a track in the
+deep snow. Only the smoke from neighboring chimneys gave any evidence
+of life. Once they heard sleigh-bells in the distance and concluded that
+the main road was being used.
+
+"I wish I could get out to feed the chickens," said Nettie after a
+while. "I am afraid they will be hungry." She went to the back door to
+view the prospect, and tried to shovel away some of the snow, but it was
+slow work. Edna brought another shovel and together they managed to
+clear a few feet of the path, but it was very wearying and they soon had
+to give it up.
+
+Then they went back to the window, but the monotony was not relieved by
+any change in the face of things and so they determined that it was
+rather stupid to stand there. Nettie brought down her two dolls and they
+played with these for a while, but keeping house in a make believe way
+was not so exciting when there was the reality close at hand, and they
+decided that paper dolls would be more entertaining.
+
+"I think there is a fashion book upstairs in the garret," said Nettie,
+"and we can take that. Mother said I might have it."
+
+Edna followed her up into the attic and they found the book, took it
+down into the front room and began to make their selections and cut out
+paper dolls till it suddenly dawned upon Nettie that it was time for
+another meal. She laid down her scissors with a sigh. "I really don't
+know what we shall have for dinner," she said. "Mother was going to
+bring something back with her. I shall have to rummage."
+
+She went into the little pantry, Edna following. "There are two
+potatoes, but they aren't very big," she said, "and there is some
+codfish. I might make some codfish balls if I knew how. Do you know,
+Edna?"
+
+"I think they are made of fish and potatoes, aren't they?"
+
+"Yes, but I don't know how much fish and how much potato, besides I am
+afraid there aren't potatoes enough. I suppose we shall have to give
+that up. Oh, here are some more eggs; that is fine. If I could find some
+ham or some bacon we could have ham and eggs, and that would be very
+good." But nothing of this kind could be discovered and Nettie brought
+out the potatoes, laid them on the table and said rather ruefully, "It
+seems to me that we aren't going to have much dinner. There isn't
+another thing except sugar and tea and such things."
+
+"There might be rice," said Edna with a sudden thought of Aunt
+Elizabeth's desserts.
+
+"Why, of course, and rice and brown sugar are very good indeed. I am so
+glad you thought of it. I know there must be rice." She went back to the
+pantry and presently came out with a box in which she had discovered the
+rice. "I'll get the eggs and we can have them fried," she remarked,
+"they will seem more like meat that way."
+
+"And we can have the potatoes baked because they will be easier to do,"
+said Edna.
+
+Nettie made another visit to the pantry. "I've found something else,"
+she called.
+
+"What?" asked Edna going to the door.
+
+"Two apples. Now, I am sure that is every blessed thing."
+
+"Well," said Edna cheerfully, "I think we are very lucky to find so
+much."
+
+"I must put the potatoes in the oven right away," declared Nettie, "for
+it takes them a good while to bake. I will put on some water for the
+rice, too. I wonder how much rice I should take. Have you any idea?"
+
+"No, I haven't, but I should think we will want quite a good deal, we
+haven't very much else, have we?"
+
+"No, we have not. I will take a large cupful. It swells up so, I should
+think that might do. You soak it first, I think." She measured out a
+full cup of the rice, poured some water over it, washed it and then set
+it to soak till the water should boil. The potatoes were put in the oven
+and then the two went back to the next room. "It won't take the rice as
+long as it does the potatoes, I am sure," said Nettie, "and the water
+will have to boil first."
+
+They returned to the paper-dolls, becoming quite interested in them till
+presently they heard a great sputtering, and running out found the water
+was boiling over. "I'll put on the rice now," said Nettie, "for I am
+getting hungry, aren't you?"
+
+"Well, yes, a little," acknowledged Edna.
+
+Nettie was rather uncertain as to what she should cook the rice in, and
+next, how much water she should pour over it, but after some discussion
+it was decided, and they went back to set the table. "Doesn't it seem
+funny to be keeping house just like grown-ups?" said Edna. "I never knew
+how much trouble it was before, did you, Nettie?"
+
+"I knew, but I didn't think about it, I suppose," returned Nettie. "We
+will pile up our dolls and papers over here on this other table and then
+they will be easy to get at when we want them. I wish the milkman had
+come, for I really don't know what to give to Tippy. We haven't any
+meat. To be sure he will eat most anything, but I am afraid he will go
+hungry to-day."
+
+"Couldn't you give him an egg and some bread or some rice, if we have
+enough."
+
+"I could do that, I suppose. I hope there will be rice enough, but it is
+very hard to tell when you aren't acquainted with such a thing as the
+boiling and swelling of it."
+
+"Oh, I smell something burning," cried Edna, "and something is making a
+funny popping noise." They flew to the kitchen to see that the rice had
+burst all bounds and was dancing out of the saucepan all over the hot
+stove, puffing and popping at a great rate.
+
+"Oh, dear," exclaimed Nettie. "I never saw so much rice come from one
+cupful. Could you believe it? Why, it has taken up all the water and the
+saucepan is full up to the top besides all that is on the stove. Oh,
+dear, I wish I knew just how to cook it."
+
+"Haven't you a cook book?" asked Edna with a quick suggestion of what
+might help out the question.
+
+"Why, of course mother has one. I will set this off and go hunt it up."
+
+The book was found on the shelves and the two put their heads together
+to discover the best way to boil rice. "I think this seems the easiest
+way," said Nettie, pointing to one of the pages of the book, "but I hope
+it won't hurt it to wait, for I'll have to put on more water to boil. It
+says to have a great deal of water and keep it boiling like mad."
+
+After some time the rice was transferred to another and larger saucepan
+and was soon boiling "like mad," then the eggs were fried and after a
+somewhat anxious and laborious period of time the dinner was pronounced
+ready.
+
+"Oh, dear me, but it is hard work," said Edna sighing as the two sat
+down to partake of the meal which they had prepared after so much
+difficulty.
+
+"Yes, it is hard work," agreed Nettie, "but we did it all ourselves, and
+the potatoes are really done and the rice looks all right."
+
+"It looks fine," said Edna, "and so do the eggs. I don't mind their
+being broken a little; I don't see how you could dish them up without."
+
+They had been so long in preparing the meal that they were quite starved
+and ate with a relish. "I'm glad there is more rice," said Nettie, "for
+now that I know what a little it takes to make a big dish I shan't be
+afraid of our starving while it lasts."
+
+"Oh, dear," Edna put down her spoon, "you don't think we shall have to
+stay here alone for days, do you? The snow will have to melt after a
+while and the roads be cleared."
+
+"It doesn't look much like it yet," returned Nettie.
+
+"Oh, but it never, never, never could keep on like this." Edna was
+determined to be hopeful. "I'm going to believe someone will come this
+very afternoon, either your mother or somebody."
+
+Her faith was not without foundation for along in the middle of the
+afternoon they heard jangling bells, and ran to the front window to see
+the milkman in a huge sleigh, his milk cans in the body of it. He plowed
+his way to the front door which was opened to him before he could knock.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Snyder," said Nettie, "I am so glad you have come. We are all
+alone and we haven't a drop of milk."
+
+"That so?" said Mr. Snyder. "I thought as much. It's pretty hard
+travelling and I've been hours getting around to my customers, but now
+the road is broken it won't be quite so hard getting back. I'd better
+leave you double quantity in case I'm late to-morrow."
+
+"Oh, you are our milkman, too, aren't you?" said Edna. "You leave milk
+at Mrs. Conway's, don't you?"
+
+"To be sure I do."
+
+"And have you been there yet?"
+
+"No, I'm on my way now. You're out a bit, you know, but what are you
+doing down here?"
+
+Edna told him her tale in which he was much interested. "Well, I
+declare," he said. "Want me to take you home with me? I can bundle you
+in there with the milk cans, and I reckon you wouldn't freeze."
+
+For a moment Edna thought she must accept this invitation, then she
+looked at Nettie. Suppose her mother should not come that evening, and
+she should be there at night all alone. "Couldn't you take Nettie, too?"
+she said.
+
+"Why, certainly. The two of you aren't much more than two milk cans, and
+I'm sure you're not so big round."
+
+"Oh, but suppose mother should come," said Nettie. "She would be so
+worried, and I must be here to keep up the fires."
+
+"Then," said Edna firmly, setting her face against the temptation of the
+cheerful supper table at home, the dear mother arms, the greetings of
+the boys and all the rest of it. "I will tell you what I can do. I will
+write mother a little note and ask her if she can send somebody or find
+some way to get us something to eat, and I'll stay till your mother
+comes, Nettie."
+
+"Oh, I think you are lovely to do that," answered Nettie.
+
+"Could you wait a minute, Mr. Snyder?" asked Edna. "I won't write
+much."
+
+"I'll wait," he said, "and if you will give me a shovel I'll make a path
+to your gate. I reckon you're right about staying, sissy. I've got two
+little girls of my own and I know I shouldn't like them to be left alone
+either one of them."
+
+Edna hurried through her note which said: "Dear mother, I am with Nettie
+Black. She lives in the first little house on the side road on the way
+to the old mill. We are all alone for her mother hasn't come back.
+Please send us something to eat if you can, for we have nothing left but
+rice and milk. There may be eggs in the hen-house, but we can't get at
+them. I want to come but I'd better not. Your loving Edna."
+
+The little note was safely stowed away in Mr. Snyder's pocket with a
+promise of sure delivery, and he went off, his horses plunging through
+the deep drifts up to their middles.
+
+"I think you are just as good as you can be," said Nettie. "I don't feel
+as if I ought to let you stay, but I do hate the idea of being left all
+alone."
+
+"I'd want you to stay with me if I were in your place," returned Edna
+remembering the G. R. Club. To be sure Nettie did not belong to her
+school, but she was quite as much one of those "others" to whom one
+should do as he would be done by.
+
+"It really looks as if something had happened," remarked Edna. "When we
+see the path to the gate. I wish he had had time to make one at the
+back, too."
+
+It was almost dark and they were about to turn from the window to light
+the lamp, when ploughing through the deep snow they saw someone coming
+down the road. They watched him eagerly. Except the milkman he was the
+first person they had seen that day. "He is coming this way," said Edna
+hopefully. "Oh, Nettie, I believe it is Cousin Ben. He has a basket and
+see how he has taken to the road where Mr. Snyder's sleigh went along."
+She watched for a few minutes longer. "It is Cousin Ben," she cried
+joyfully. "He is coming here. Light the lamp, Nettie, while I go let him
+in."
+
+She hurried to the door to see Ben stamping off the snow from his feet.
+"Whewee!" he exclaimed, "but isn't this a sockdolager? I never saw such
+a storm? How are you Ande, my honey. Of all things to think of your
+being this near home and none of us knowing it."
+
+"Then mother did think I was still at Uncle Justus's," said Edna.
+
+"Just what she did. You rung a surprise on the whole of us, I can tell
+you."
+
+He came in and set down the basket, took off his cap and overcoat and
+looked down at the two little girls with a smile.
+
+"This is Nettie Black," Edna told him. "She has been so nice to me, and
+I don't know what would have happened if I had not been able to get to
+her house."
+
+"Don't speak of it," returned Ben with a little frown and a shake of his
+head. "I'll sit down and warm myself and then you can tell me how this
+all happened."
+
+He drew up to the fire, took Edna on his knee and she poured forth her
+tale. "Pretty tough," he said when she had completed her story. "I'm
+glad your mother didn't know you had started. Now, Miss Nettie if you
+will let me sleep on that big sofa I am going to stay right here till we
+can dig you out and your mother comes. There's a lot of provender in
+that basket and we'll be as jolly as they make 'em."
+
+"Oh, but you can sleep upstairs," returned Nettie. "There is plenty of
+room."
+
+"Good! Then upstairs be it. What was that about hens and eggs and
+things, Ande?"
+
+"Oh, we can't get out to the hen-house, you know. We tried to make a
+path but it was too hard work for us so we gave it up."
+
+"I should remark. Well, that will be done first thing in the morning,
+and I'll go see what I can find. Eggsactly, as it were. What about the
+fires? Any coal up here?"
+
+"A little," Nettie told him. "We have carried up all we could at a time,
+but we couldn't bring enough for the fires to-night. We are going down
+to get more."
+
+"You are going to do no such thing. Got a candle? Where are the coal
+scuttles? One of you hold the light and show me your coal bin and up
+comes your coal." Cousin Ben was already making for the cellar door.
+
+Of course no one was going to be left out of this expedition and all
+three descended to the cellar, from which they presently came forth all
+laughing. It was certainly a cheering thing to have someone so willing
+to come to their aid. Next the basket was unpacked and it goes without
+saying that there were neither eggs nor rice for supper that night.
+Moreover, Tippy had such a feast of milk as well as other things as he
+had not seen for several days. Ben kept the little girls in such a state
+of giggle that they could scarcely do the dishes, but what with the
+labors of the day and the later excitement they were ready for bed
+early, and went up leaving Cousin Ben with a book before him. Later his
+light half wakened Edna, but as he closed the door between the rooms
+and she realized that he was there, she turned over with a sigh of
+content, feeling very safe and sleepy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+DISTURBANCES
+
+
+Sunday morning was bright and clear. It was so dazzlingly bright when
+the little girls arose that they thought it must be much later than it
+was. Cousin Ben, however, was already up and dressed and had been down
+some time when the two finally descended to the lower floor. This was
+made known by reason of the fires burning brightly and of there being a
+path cleared to the hen-house, while as many as a dozen eggs were in a
+bowl on the kitchen table.
+
+"Oh, Cousin Ben," cried Edna, "what a lot you have done. It is so cosey
+and warm down here, and we won't have to wait at all for breakfast."
+
+"I hope not," he returned, "for I'm hungry, for one. What are you going
+to have?"
+
+Edna turned to Nettie who considered the question. It was a great
+occasion when there were two guests to be provided for. "As long as
+there are so many eggs," she said, "we can have muffins or something and
+some eggs. I could have some kind of breakfast food, too, I believe
+there's some oat-meal."
+
+"Never mind the oat-meal," said Ben. "You get me out the flour and stuff
+and I'll make the muffins. There is a royal fire and I'll get them ready
+in three shakes of a sheep's tail."
+
+"You?" Nettie looked amazed.
+
+"Of course. Did you never hear of a man cook? I've served my
+apprenticeship, I can assure you. I'll make the coffee, too, if you have
+any."
+
+"Oh, there is some already ground, in the basket mother sent," Edna
+assured him. "We don't drink it, but we can have cambric tea."
+
+"All right, you go along and set the table, and I'll do the rest."
+
+Nettie was rather glad to have the responsibility taken off her hands in
+this summary manner, though she said to Edna, "Do you think it is polite
+to let him do it all?"
+
+"Why, certainly," replied Edna. "He does those things at home for his
+mother sometimes, for he has no sisters, and the boys have to pitch in
+and help when the servant goes out. He has told me all about it. And as
+for its being polite, I remember mother said it was always more polite
+to let your company do the thing which made them comfortable than to
+insist upon doing something for them that would make them
+uncomfortable."
+
+Nettie considered this for some time before she quite took in the sense
+of it. She was a thin, demure little girl, not at all pretty, but with a
+kind face, big blue eyes and sandy hair. She was dressed very plainly,
+but her clothes were neat and simply made. She was not the kind of child
+Edna might have expected to find in such a little house.
+
+The muffins turned out a great success, and Ben said his coffee just
+suited him. "I never saw fresher eggs than your hens lay," he said,
+looking at Nettie with a serious face.
+
+"Of course, they are fresh," she returned, "when they were only laid
+yesterday."
+
+"That's what I said," returned Ben, with gravity.
+
+Edna laughed. She was used to Cousin Ben's ways, but Nettie was a little
+puzzled.
+
+The breakfast was as merry an affair as the supper had been, and after
+it was cleared away there was a consultation upon what should be done
+next. "There's no use in thinking of church," said Ben. "We couldn't get
+there if we tried."
+
+"And there are so few trains I don't suppose I can expect mother this
+morning," said Nettie.
+
+"Better not expect her at all," replied Ben, "that is, not while the
+roads are so snowy. There is scarcely any use in even a sleigh while
+these drifts are so high. Ande, what is the use of a sleigh, anyhow?" he
+asked, turning to his cousin who saw a joke.
+
+"You tell," she answered.
+
+"Snow use" he replied. "Now, I'll go out and feed the hens, and then
+I'll put on my boots and start on the road again. I'll see what's going
+on at the house, and then I'll come back again." They watched him
+ploughing through the snow, but because he had been there and was coming
+back it seemed not lonely at all, though Nettie said, wistfully, she did
+hope her mother could come that day, and Edna hoped she could find a way
+of getting home.
+
+Toward noon they saw a queer box-sleigh coming from the main road. They
+watched it interestedly from the window as it approached nearer and
+nearer. "I do believe it is mother," exclaimed Nettie, joyfully. And
+sure enough the sleigh did stop before the door, a man got out, and then
+helped a slight woman in black to alight. "It is mother," cried Nettie,
+running to the door, and presently she was in her mother's arms.
+
+Then there were great explanations. Like the little girls, Mrs. Black
+had been snowed in, for her sister lived quite a distance from the
+station, but she had at last been able to get some one of the neighbors
+to bring her across, as he had to go to the doctor's, and was willing to
+take her the short distance further.
+
+"If I had known how well cared for you would be," she told her daughter,
+"and that you were not alone at all, I should have been much less
+anxious. Certainly, we have a great deal to be thankful for."
+
+Edna felt that she certainly had a great deal to be thankful for when a
+little later she saw a big black sleigh stop before the door. She
+recognized it as Mrs. MacDonald's, for it was driven by her coach-man,
+though in it sat Cousin Ben. He had come back as he promised, but in
+great state. And because Nettie's mother had returned he bore Edna off
+alone, after many good-bys and promises to see her new friend as often
+as she could.
+
+"How did you happen to come in Mrs. MacDonald's sleigh?" she asked her
+cousin.
+
+"Well, I will tell you. When I reached the house I found that Mrs.
+MacDonald had telephoned over to ask about all of you, and to see how
+Celia was. When she heard where you were and all about it, she said she
+would send over her sleigh and I could go for you and Nettie in it, and
+so as that seemed a good arrangement I was going to put it into
+execution. We had decided to leave a note for Mrs. Black in case she
+should get back to-day, so she wouldn't be worried."
+
+"It's really much better this way," returned Edna, "for now she has her
+mother, and I will have mine."
+
+It seemed a delightful home coming, and because the snow was still so
+deep there was the extra holiday on Monday, but by Tuesday all started
+off to school again. Mrs. MacDonald knew all about Mrs. Black, and said
+she was a very good woman, who had taken this little house in the
+country because she could live there more cheaply, and because in such a
+place as she could afford in the city her little daughter would not be
+surrounded by pleasant influences. Nettie went to the district school,
+and was such a little girl as Edna's parents would select as a companion
+for their daughter. So, Edna felt she had made quite a discovery, and
+planned all sorts of times with Nettie when the winter was over.
+
+Matters went on at school uninterruptedly, until just before Christmas,
+when it was suddenly made known that Miss Ashurst was to be married,
+and that another teacher would take her place after the holidays. The
+G. R.'s got up a linen shower for the departing teacher, but the
+Neighborhood Club did nothing. Its numbers were dwindling, for when it
+was learned what good times the rivals had at their meetings, there was
+more than one deserter. For some reason, Clara Adams had picked out Edna
+as the prime cause of all this. She had never forgiven her for winning
+the doll at the fair the year before, and was likewise furiously jealous
+of her friendship for Jennie Ramsey. If Edna had been a less generous
+and sweet-tempered child, matters might have been much worse, but even
+as it was they were made bad enough.
+
+No sooner had the new teacher appeared than Clara set to work to do
+everything in her power to make Edna appear to disadvantage, by all
+sorts of mean innuendoes, by sly hints, by even open charges, till the
+child was almost in tears over the state of affairs.
+
+"I would just tell Miss Newman, so I would," said Dorothy indignantly,
+when a specially mean speech of Clara's came to her ears.
+
+"Oh, but I couldn't be a tattle-tale," declared Edna.
+
+"She'd better not say anything about you to me," returned Dorothy. "She
+knows better than that. I'd tell her a thing or two."
+
+"If Uncle Justus knew, he would believe me and not Clara," said Edna. "I
+don't cheat in my lessons, and he knows I don't, whatever Clara may say,
+and I'm not the one who sets the girls up to mischief, you know I'm
+not."
+
+"I know mighty well who it is," declared Dorothy, "and if this keeps up
+I shall tell, so I shall."
+
+It did keep up till one morning the climax was reached when Miss Newman
+came into her school-room to find on the board a very good caricature of
+herself, with under it written: "Ugly, old Miss New," in scrawling
+letters. Clara came into the school-room late, and slipped into her seat
+after the exercises had begun. Miss Newman left the drawing on the board
+and made no reference to it, using a smaller board for what was
+necessary. She was far less attractive than Miss Ashurst, and had a dry
+little way with her, which many of the girls thought oldmaidish, but she
+was a good teacher, if not a very beautiful one. When the girls returned
+from recess, in place of Miss Newman at the desk stood Mr. Horner, his
+eyes fairly snapping with indignation, and his eyebrows looking fiercer
+than ever.
+
+"Oh," whispered Dorothy, as she sank down into her seat by Edna's side.
+The rest of the girls looked pale and awe-stricken. Never before had
+they any recollection of Mr. Horner's coming into the room. Offenders
+were sometimes sent to him in the larger room, but this was a new
+experience.
+
+There was complete silence, while Mr. Horner looked from one to the
+other as if he would search their very hearts. Some of the girls
+returned his gaze pleadingly, some dropped their heads, Clara Adams,
+with a little smile of indifference, began to play with her pencil. Mr.
+Horner glared at her. "Put that down!" he said, and she dropped it,
+though still wearing her impertinent little smile. "I wish to know,"
+said Mr. Horner, "who was the first to arrive in this room this
+morning?"
+
+"I was the last," spoke up Clara.
+
+"You were not asked that," said Mr. Horner, turning upon her.
+
+After quite a silence, Margaret arose. "I think I was the first, Mr.
+Horner," she said, and then sat down again.
+
+"There was no one in the room when you came?"
+
+"No, Mr. Horner."
+
+"And was this on the board?" He pointed to the drawing.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Horner."
+
+"You did not do it?"
+
+"No, Mr. Horner," then with a little catch of her breath, "I wouldn't do
+such a mean thing, not for nothing."
+
+"Not for anything, I think you mean, Margaret," said Mr. Horner in
+gentler tones.
+
+"Not for anything," repeated Margaret, meekly.
+
+"Then, I shall have to ask each separately, and I expect a truthful
+answer," said Mr. Horner. He began putting the question, going from one
+to the next till every girl in the room had been questioned.
+
+"It might have been one of the older girls," said Miss Newman, in an
+undertone to him.
+
+Clara caught the words, as she was nearest. "I should think it would be
+very easy to know who did it," she said, "when there is only one of us
+girls who stays in the house."
+
+"What do you mean by that?" asked Mr. Horner severely.
+
+Clara was not daunted. "I mean that there is only one girl who can come
+into the school-room before the others can get here."
+
+"Do you mean my niece? I should as soon think of suspecting Miss Newman
+herself." He looked over at Edna with a little reassuring smile.
+"However, as we do not seem to be making much headway I shall take other
+means of finding out who did this very unladylike and unkind thing."
+Then he gave them such a lecture as none of them forgot and if the
+G. R.'s did not have their motto brought home to them on that occasion
+they never did. Then Mr. Horner returned to his own school-room and Miss
+Newman called one of the girls to clean off the board.
+
+Nothing further was said of the matter, and Miss Newman went on as if it
+had never happened; but one day the last of the week, the girls were
+asked to illustrate in pencil drawings a story from their history
+lesson.
+
+"Oh, Miss Newman, I couldn't possibly do it," exclaimed Dorothy. "I
+don't expect finished drawings," she replied, "and you may even make
+them as humorous as you choose, but I want some little attempt, no
+matter how slight. Mr. Horner has asked that you do your best, and I
+shall expect you to hand in something beside blank paper."
+
+Dorothy and Edna both sighed. Neither one had the slightest idea of
+drawing and knew that their results would be absurd, but they labored
+away and finally with half deprecating, half amused expressions showed
+their drawings to one another. It was as much as they could do to keep
+from laughing outright, they were so very funny, but they signed their
+names in the corner as Miss Newman directed them to do, and handed them
+in. Then, Miss Newman took them into the next room. At the close of
+school, she said, "Mr. Horner wishes Clara Adams to stay after school;
+he wishes to see her about her drawing."
+
+Clara perked up and looked around with a little smirk. So she was the
+prize draughtsman, and she remained with a perfectly good grace.
+However, it was a very different looking Clara who was led into the room
+the next morning by Mr. Horner. Her eyes were swollen with crying and
+she wore a rebellious expression when Mr. Horner announced, "Clara Adams
+wishes to make a public acknowledgment of her part in the rudeness
+directed against Miss Newman by the drawing you all saw on the board,
+and she will also make a public apology both to her teacher and to my
+niece."
+
+Clara murmured something unintelligible and burst into tears. The only
+words the girls could make out were "I did it." It was the most terrible
+thing that had ever happened to any of them and Edna felt so sorry for
+the culprit that all resentment vanished altogether. She forgot entirely
+that she was included in the apology, if apology there was, and all
+morning she cast the most sympathetic looks across the room at Clara.
+
+It came out later that the drawings were the proof of the child's guilt,
+for they were done in the same style as the caricature and because they
+were so much better than the rest it was evident that only Clara could
+have made the figure on the board. She had come very early, had slipped
+upstairs before anyone else and had gone out again to return later and
+thus hoped to avoid any suspicion. It happened, too, that Ellen saw her
+come in and go out again and this of course clinched the matter when she
+was brought face to face with the Irish girl who did not know her name
+but recognized the hat and coat she wore.
+
+The affair made a great impression but somehow did not increase Miss
+Newman's popularity, for the idea of the drawings was hers and Clara
+could not forgive her for the position into which she had forced her,
+therefore she lost no opportunity of making it as unpleasant for her
+teacher as she could in the thousand and one ways a sly and
+unprincipled girl can, and her little pin-pricks were so annoying, that
+finally Dorothy and Edna, who had not particularly cared for the new
+teacher, began to stand up for her and to do as many kind things as they
+could. Perhaps the G. R. Club was mainly responsible for this, but at
+all events it made matters a little happier for the teacher.
+
+As for Clara, Dorothy set her face against any sort of friendship with
+her, but it was not within Edna's heart to be unkind to anyone, and she
+made up her mind that she would meet Clara half way if ever the chance
+came.
+
+Uncle Justus never mentioned the affair of the caricature to her, but
+she knew he had never the slightest belief that she had done it and his
+open approval of her before the whole class was very much valued. She
+had won her way into the hearts of most of the girls, and there were
+only two or three of Clara's most adoring adherents who still called her
+"a pet" and said she was at the bottom of all Clara's trouble. This
+seemed a very strange way to look at it, but poor Clara was so blinded
+by jealousy and rage that she saw nothing in the right light. Edna
+wondered if she would ever cease to dislike her, and insisted to Dorothy
+that they ought to try to persuade her to come into the club. "You see,"
+she said, "if she could once find out what doing to others really means
+she maybe would get over all her hatefulness. Mother thinks so, and I'm
+not going to give up being nice to her if I get a chance."
+
+"Well, you don't catch me," returned Dorothy. "I don't want to go with
+such a horrid story-teller as she is. I shouldn't think you would,
+either."
+
+Edna said not a word, but still hoped.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE FRIENDLESS FRIENDS
+
+
+Margaret came to school in great excitement one Monday morning. "I'm
+going to have a party," she said to Edna. "I'll tell you all about it at
+recess."
+
+The idea of Margaret's really having a party was most interesting when
+Edna remembered that it had been just a year since she was adopted by
+Mrs. MacDonald. She had improved very much in this time, both in speech
+and manner, and no happier child could be found than she. To be sure she
+had everything to make her happy, as Dorothy often said, a beautiful
+home, a kind mother and friends who took pains to make her forget how
+forlorn she had once been. She was very grateful for all these things,
+and rarely asked for anything more than was offered to her, so that Mrs.
+MacDonald was all the more ready to give her pleasures which she did not
+ask for.
+
+Jennie and Dorothy were admitted into the little group which gathered to
+hear about the party. "Tell us all about it, Margaret," said Edna. "Just
+begin at the beginning."
+
+"Well," said Margaret, "mother was saying to me on Saturday evening,
+'Margaret, do you know it is almost a year since you became my own
+little daughter? Now I think we ought to celebrate the day of your
+coming to your home. What would you like to do?' So I thought and
+thought, and then I said, 'I never had a party in all my life, would it
+be too much to celebrate by having one?' and she said, 'Not at all,
+though I should first like to know what girls you would like to
+invite,' and I told her all the G. R. Club. 'Anyone else?' she asked,
+and I thought of Nettie Black. 'I'd like to have Nettie,' I said, and
+then I remembered how lonely I used to be even at the Friendless, and
+how glad I used to be when you came to see me, Edna, and I thought of
+two or three who were still there, girls who haven't been adopted, and I
+said I'd like to have them. Then mother said, 'Very well, only the
+others may not want to come if you have poor children like them, and
+you'd better ask the girls, and if they refuse you can make up your mind
+which you would rather have, the girls of the club or the
+Friendlessers.'"
+
+"Oh, Margaret, you know we won't care," said Edna earnestly.
+
+"I knew _you_ wouldn't, but I didn't know about them all. I shall have
+to ask, you see, because it seems to me that of all the people I know,
+the Friendlessers are the very ones who ought to come when it is to
+celebrate my coming away from there, and then, too they don't have good
+times like we do."
+
+The girls all called the Home of the Friendless "The Friendless" and the
+children there, "The Friendlessers" so they knew quite well whom
+Margaret meant.
+
+"How soon is the party to be?" asked Jennie.
+
+"Next Saturday afternoon. The Friendlessers can come then better than
+any other time, and besides we live out of town, and it will be easier
+for everyone to come in the afternoon."
+
+"I shall come," said Dorothy decidedly, "and I think it is a beautiful
+idea for you to have the Friendlessers."
+
+"And of course I shall come," put in Jennie.
+
+"I know my sister will," said Edna.
+
+"And mine," echoed Dorothy.
+
+"There is one thing I hope you won't mind my saying," said Margaret;
+"mother says please not to wear party frocks, and not to dress up much,
+on account of the Friendlessers, you know, for of course they won't have
+any."
+
+"Of course not," agreed the girls.
+
+"Mother says we can have just as good a time if we are not dressed up
+and as long as it is going to be in the daytime it won't make so much
+difference."
+
+"Let's go tell the other girls," suggested Edna.
+
+They hunted up Agnes, Celia and the rest of the club members and did not
+find one who objected to the presence of the "Friendlessers."
+
+However, when the news of Margaret's party was noised abroad, there was
+much scorn on the part of the Neighborhood Club. "The idea," said Clara,
+"of going to a party with orphan asylum children! I'd like to see my
+mother allowing me to associate with such creatures. I can't think what
+Jennie Ramsey's mother can be thinking of to allow her to go. Besides,
+Margaret is an orphan asylum girl herself and no better than the rest!
+I'm sure I wouldn't be seen at her party."
+
+"And they're not even going to wear party frocks, nor so much as white
+ones," said Gertrude Crane. "I don't see what fun it will be."
+
+"And I suppose there are to be no boys," put in Clara.
+
+"I haven't heard whether there are to be or not," returned Gertrude.
+
+The question of boys did come up later when Mrs. MacDonald asked
+Margaret if she did not think it would be well to invite Frank and
+Charley Conway, as one of the "Friendlessers" was a boy. The two Porter
+boys who came out often to play with the Conway boys, were thought of
+and were invited, and when Edna returned home on Friday evening Cousin
+Ben informed her that he, too, was going.
+
+"Why, Cousin Ben," she said in pleased surprise, "how does that happen,
+when you are such a big boy, really a man, you know?"
+
+"I must confess I fished for an invitation," he told her. "Mrs.
+MacDonald was over here to ask if Charlie and Frank could come and I
+said, 'What's the matter with asking me, too?' and so I got my invite. I
+wouldn't miss it for a six-pence." Cousin Ben and Mrs. MacDonald were
+great friends and he was quite intimate at the big gray house so it was
+no wonder that he wanted to be at Margaret's first party.
+
+It was as Ben said "a queer mix-up." The first to arrive were the four
+children from the Home of the Friendless, three little girls and one
+little boy. One of the teachers brought them out and remained in order
+to take them back again. The big gray house looked cheerful and more
+attractive than usual, for flowers were Mrs. MacDonald's great pleasure
+and they were everywhere, making up for the plainness of the
+furnishings, for Mrs. MacDonald did not believe in showiness. Her house
+was thoroughly comfortable but not elegant.
+
+These first arrivals were very shy, quite awe-stricken and sat on the
+edges of their chairs scarce daring to move until Margaret took them out
+to see the greenhouses. After that they were a little more at their ease
+for each came back with a flower. By a little after three all had
+arrived, the Porter boys with their Punch and Judy show which they had
+promised to bring, and Ben with his banjo. All the girls wore plain
+frocks with no extra ornaments, Margaret herself being not much better
+dressed than her friends from the Home.
+
+The Punch and Judy show was given first as a sort of prelude to the
+games which were to follow, and in these even the older girls joined
+with spirit. The main idea seemed to be that everyone should do his or
+her best to make the party a success and to give the poorer children as
+good a time as possible. Ben, be it said, was the life of the occasion.
+He kept everyone going, never allowed a dull moment, and if nothing else
+was planned, he would pick up his banjo and give a funny coon song, so
+that it was no wonder Mrs. MacDonald was glad to have invited him.
+
+Probably in all their lives the Friendlessers never forgot the wonderful
+table to which they were led when refreshments were served, and which
+they talked of for weeks afterward. Here there was no stint and the
+decorations were made as beautiful as possible. There were pretty little
+favors for everyone, and such good things to eat as would have done
+credit to any entertainment. It was all over at six o'clock, but not one
+went away with a feeling of having had a stupid time, for even the older
+girls agreed among themselves that it had been great fun.
+
+"Did you ever see anything like those children's eyes when they saw that
+table," said Agnes smiling at the recollection.
+
+"It must have been like a fairy tale to them, poor little things,"
+replied Helen Darby. "I think it was a perfectly lovely thing for Mrs.
+MacDonald to do. Won't I have fun telling father about it, and how
+interested he will be. He has been quizzing me all day about my orphan
+asylum party, but I know he liked my going."
+
+"I liked that little Nettie Black," Florence remarked. "She has such a
+nice quaint little face, like an old-fashioned picture. Her name ought
+to be Prudence or Charity or some of those queer old names. Where did
+you pick her up, Edna?"
+
+"Oh, she is the little girl that I kept house with at the time of the
+blizzard," Edna told her. "She lives just a short way up the side road,
+and she is a very nice child."
+
+"I found that out," returned Florence. "Why doesn't she belong to our
+club?"
+
+"Because she doesn't go to our school."
+
+"To be sure, I forgot that. Well, she could be made an honorary member
+or something, couldn't she Agnes?"
+
+"Why, I should think so. We'll have to bring that up at our next
+meeting. Would she like to belong to the club, do you think, Edna?"
+
+"She would just love to, I know."
+
+"Then we'll have to fix it some way. I'll ask mother or Mrs. Conway what
+we can do."
+
+"I don't know how we could all get into their parlor," said Edna
+doubtfully; "it is so very tiny."
+
+"We don't have to," Agnes told her, "for you know the general club-room
+is up in our attic and I'm sure that is big enough for anyone. If Nettie
+comes into the club, when her turn comes for a meeting it can be held in
+the general club-room."
+
+This was very satisfactory, but it did not do away with another
+difficulty which came to Edna's mind. She knew that Mrs. Black had
+barely enough means to get along on with the utmost economy and how
+Nettie could ever furnish even simple refreshments for a dozen or more
+girls she did not know. However, she would not worry about that till the
+time came. As yet Nettie was not even a member of the club.
+
+Margaret's party was talked about at school almost as much after as
+before it came off. Those who had been present discoursed upon the good
+time they had had, and those who were not there wished they had been.
+But to offset it, there came the report that Clara Adams was going to
+have a party and that it would be in the evening and was expected to be
+a gorgeous affair. Jennie Ramsey was invited but had not made up her
+mind whether she wanted to go or not. As most of those who would be
+invited were the children of Mrs. Adams's friends and were not
+schoolmates of Clara's it did not seem to Jennie that she would have a
+very good time.
+
+"It will be all fuss and feathers," she told Dorothy and Edna, "and I
+won't know half the children there, besides I shall hear so much talk
+about what I shall wear and all that, I believe I'd rather stay at
+home."
+
+"Clara is going to wear a lace frock over pink silk, I heard her say,"
+Dorothy told them.
+
+"I should think that would be very pretty," declared Edna admiringly.
+
+"I'd rather be dressed as we were at Margaret's," Jennie returned, "for
+then we could romp around and not care anything about what happened to
+our clothes." Jennie hadn't a spark of vanity and cared so little for
+dress as to be a surprise to the others.
+
+"Of course that was nice, but I should like the pretty clothes, too,"
+rejoined Edna with honesty.
+
+"They won't do anything, either, but dance and sit around and look at
+each other," continued Jennie. "I'd much rather play games like 'Going
+to Jerusalem' and 'Forfeits' and all those things we did at Margaret's.
+I have all the dancing I want at dancing-school. No, I shall tell my
+mother I don't want to go." Jennie had made up her mind, and that was
+the end of the matter for her.
+
+Therefore the others heard very little of what went on at Clara's party.
+That it came off they knew, and there was much talk of what this one or
+that one wore, of how late they stayed and how many dances they had, but
+that was all, and the stay-at-homes decided that, after all they had not
+missed much, and if Clara's intention was to rouse their envy she failed
+of her purpose.
+
+At the next meeting of the club Nettie was voted in as an honorary
+member. "That seems to be about the only thing we can do," Agnes
+announced, "and everyone seems to want her." So the thing was done.
+
+If there was one thing above another which Nettie did long for it was to
+become a member of the club whose wonderful doings she had heard so much
+of from Edna. The two had seen each other often, and now that the spring
+was nearing, rarely a Saturday came but that they met. It was Edna who
+took her the joyful news on Friday evening.
+
+"I've something perfectly lovely to tell you," she announced as soon as
+she was inside the door of the little house.
+
+"What?" asked Nettie with a quick smile of interest.
+
+"You're going to be a member of our club."
+
+"Oh, Edna, how can I be? I don't go to your school."
+
+"I know, and that is why we had to make you an honorary member," Agnes
+said.
+
+"Oh, I think you are all the dearest things I ever knew," cried Nettie.
+Then her face fell, "But, oh, Edna, how can we get all of you girls in
+this little bit of a house?"
+
+"Oh, you can meet in the general club-room at the Evanses," Edna told
+her. "Agnes says so and it is in their attic, you know. When a girl
+can't very well have the meeting at her house we have it there. Once it
+was to be at Betty Lowndes's house and her little sister had the
+chicken-pox so we couldn't meet there and we had it in the attic."
+
+Nettie's face cleared, but presently a new difficulty presented itself,
+one which she hesitated to speak of but which was a very serious one.
+How should she tell Edna what was in her mind? But she remembered that
+Edna had seen the poverty of the family stores and that there was no
+need to make any pretence to her. "There's another thing," she began, "I
+haven't any money, and I couldn't ask mother for refreshments."
+
+"I thought of that," answered Edna; "we might give them rice," and then
+they both laughed. "If there were only some way you could earn some
+money and I could help you," continued Edna with more seriousness.
+"Perhaps we could think of some way. If it were something we could both
+do, I could help you."
+
+"You are always so good that way," replied Nettie gratefully.
+
+"Well, anyhow," said Edna, "it won't be for some time yet that you have
+to have the meeting and perhaps we can think of something. If we can't
+would you mind if I ask mother what we could do?"
+
+"I'd rather not," replied Nettie doubtfully, "not unless you have to."
+
+"Then I won't unless I have to."
+
+"Perhaps my mother can think of a way, only I don't want to say anything
+to her, for she will feel badly because she can't let me have the money,
+and I know I ought not to ask her for it. I won't ask, of course, but if
+I tell it will be the same as asking, and it will make her feel so
+unhappy if she must say no, she can't."
+
+"Then we must try very hard to think of a way without telling anyone.
+You wouldn't need so very much, you know, Nettie, for we can have real
+cheap things like peanuts and gingerbread, or something like that. I
+believe fifty cents would be enough to spend, and a dollar would be
+plenty."
+
+This seemed like a large amount to Nettie, though she did not say so,
+and the thought of earning that much weighed heavily upon her after Edna
+had gone home.
+
+Edna's thoughts, too, were busy all the evening, and she was so absorbed
+in Nettie's dilemma that she sat with arms on the table and doing
+nothing but looking off into space so that at last her father said.
+"What's the matter, little girl? You haven't even asked for your
+favorite children's page of my evening paper," and he handed it over to
+her.
+
+This was something that Edna always asked for and she took it now with
+some little interest, and roused herself to look down the columns.
+Presently she breathed softly. "Oh!" She had seen something which gave
+her an idea for Nettie, and she went to bed that night full of a hope
+which she meant her friend should know as soon as possible the next
+day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE PUZZLE
+
+
+When Edna awoke on Saturday morning her first thought was of Nettie and
+she scrambled out of bed that she might not lose a moment's time in
+telling her of the discovery she had made the night before. She hurried
+through her breakfast and was off to the little house as soon as she had
+been given leave by her mother. She carried the page of her father's
+paper safely folded in her hand, and ran nearly all the way, arriving
+breathless. She could scarcely wait for Nettie to open to her knock, and
+her words tumbled over each other as she replied to Nettie's greeting of
+"How nice and early you are," by saying, "Oh, I have something so nice
+to tell you."
+
+"You had something nice to tell me when you came last evening," returned
+Nettie; "you don't mean to say there is anything more."
+
+"Yes, I've found a way that maybe you can make some money, a dollar."
+
+This was exciting, "Oh, do tell me quick," returned Nettie.
+
+Edna hastily began to open the paper she carried, and then she thrust it
+before Nettie, pointing to a line and saying, "There, read that."
+
+Nettie did as she was told, her eyes eagerly running over the words.
+"Oh, Edna," she said, "do you believe we could do it?"
+
+"Why, of course, but you see the main thing is to get it done as quickly
+as possible, for the one who gets the answer to the puzzle the quickest
+and who has the clearest answer will get the first prize. Maybe we
+couldn't get the very first, but we could get the second, and that's a
+dollar. We must set to work right away. I thought we'd do the best we
+could and then we'd get Cousin Ben to fix it up for us."
+
+"Would that be right?"
+
+"Oh, I think so, for it doesn't say you mustn't have any help; it just
+says the one who sends it in the soonest. I left a note for Cousin Ben
+to stop here if he had time this morning."
+
+"Do you think he will?"
+
+"If he has time. I told him it was something very particular. You don't
+mind his knowing, do you, Nettie? He won't tell, I am sure. You don't
+know how well he can keep a secret."
+
+"No, I don't mind," Nettie replied, "because he has been here and knows
+all about everything."
+
+"Then let's go at it."
+
+"I must finish the dishes first."
+
+"Then would you rather I should help you with them or start on the
+puzzle?"
+
+"I think you'd better start on the puzzle."
+
+"Very well. I've been thinking a little about it, and I believe I've
+guessed part. They are in the paper every week on Fridays, and I often
+do them, but this is the first time I've noticed that a prize has been
+offered."
+
+She took off her coat and hat, sat down at the table and spread out the
+paper before her. Nettie furnished paper and pencil and then went back
+to her work in the kitchen. The two were busying their brains over the
+puzzle when Ben appeared an hour later.
+
+"Hallo," he said, "what's up, kiddies?"
+
+"Why you see," Edna began, "Nettie has been taken into the club, and
+when her time comes to have the club meeting she won't have any way of
+getting the refreshments, so we thought and thought of what we could do
+to get some money, and last night I saw in the Children's Corner of the
+_Times_ that they would give prizes for guessing a puzzle, you know
+those puzzles, Cousin Ben."
+
+"Yes, my child, I knew them of yore."
+
+"Well, don't you see if we can only guess this one quick and can send in
+the answer right away we might get a dollar, anyhow. We have guessed a
+lot of it, but I thought maybe you could help us a little and tell us
+how to fix it up very nicely. Have you very much to do to-day?"
+
+"Not so much but that I can spare you a little time for such laudable
+ambition. Where's your puzzle?"
+
+Edna produced the paper and then showed him what they had already done.
+"Do you think it is right as far as we've gone?" she asked anxiously.
+
+He looked over the page she offered him. "Pretty good so far. Let me
+see. I think that must be John B. J on B. you see."
+
+"Of course, it is, why didn't we think of that? And this one, what do
+you think that can be?"
+
+Ben looked at this thoughtfully, and presently declared he had it. So
+bit by bit the puzzle was completed and within an hour was in such shape
+as pleased the girls immensely.
+
+"Now," said Ben, "I'll tell you what I can do. I want to take the noon
+train to town and I'll get this right down to the newspaper office
+myself; I have to go near there, and so it will reach them much quicker
+than if it were sent by mail, you see."
+
+"Oh, Cousin Ben, you are a perfect dear!" cried Edna. "I think that is
+just lovely of you. We are so much obliged, aren't we, Nettie?"
+
+"I am very much obliged to both of you," returned Nettie sedately.
+Edna's interest was so great that she forgot she was not doing this for
+herself at all.
+
+"Shall we tell your mother?" asked Edna when Ben had gone, promising
+that he would attend to the puzzle the very first thing.
+
+"Why--" Nettie hesitated, "I'd like to have her know and yet I would
+love dearly to have it for a surprise if we did win. When do you suppose
+we will know?"
+
+"Not before next Friday, I suppose, but that will be soon enough, won't
+it?"
+
+"Yes, except that I can scarcely wait to know, and it is hard to keep a
+secret from your mother that long."
+
+"Why don't you tell her that you have a secret and that you can't tell
+her till Friday?"
+
+"I might do that, but then suppose I shouldn't win; we would both be
+disappointed."
+
+"What did you tell her just now that we were all doing?"
+
+"I told her we were doing a puzzle, and she said as long as I had done
+my morning's work I could stay with you. I have still my stockings to
+darn, but I can do those this afternoon. Mother always lets me do them
+when I choose; so long as I get them done before Sunday, that is all she
+asks."
+
+Edna looked very sympathetic. She did not have to do her stockings
+nowadays, though she remembered that it had been one of the week's tasks
+when she was staying with Aunt Elizabeth, and it was one she much
+disliked. She stayed a little while longer and then returned home, for
+Dorothy was coming that afternoon and they were both going over to see
+Margaret to make what Dorothy said was their party call.
+
+The weather was quite mild; already the buds were beginning to swell on
+the trees, and the crocuses were starting up in the little grass plot in
+front of Nettie's home. Edna stopped to look at them as she passed out.
+She was full of Nettie's secret but she had promised not to tell. She
+wished Cousin Ben would come back so she could talk it over with him,
+but he was not to return till late in the day and meantime she must
+occupy herself and not say a word of what was uppermost in her mind.
+
+She found Celia and Agnes in the library talking earnestly. There was a
+pleasant aroma of gingerbread pervading the house, and the fire in the
+open grate looked very cheerful. What a dear place home was, and how
+glad she was always to get back to it. Agnes held out her hand as she
+came in. "Well, chickabiddy," she said, "where have you been? You are as
+rosy as an apple."
+
+"I've been down to Nettie's. I'm glad I don't have to darn my
+stockings."
+
+"Does Nettie have to?"
+
+"Yes, and she has to wash the dishes, too. I did darn my stockings last
+year, but Katie does them all this year, so I don't even have to be
+sorry for mother and think of her doing them, for Katie is paid to do
+them."
+
+Agnes laughed. "But I have no doubt you would do them just as cheerfully
+as Nettie does, if you had to do them."
+
+"I don't know about the cheerful part, but I wouldn't yell and scream."
+
+"Let us hope you would not," said Celia. "I should hope you knew better
+than to behave like that."
+
+"Of course," said Edna. "What were you talking about, you two?"
+
+"Shall we tell her, Agnes?" asked Celia.
+
+"Why not? It will soon be talked over by all of us."
+
+"Well, we were talking of having something very special for the last
+meeting of the club, after school closes. You see most of the girls go
+away for the summer, and we shall have to give the club a holiday, too."
+
+"What nice special thing were you thinking of?"
+
+"We thought if we could have some nice little fairy play and have it out
+of doors, it would be lovely. We would invite our parents and the
+teachers and have a real big affair."
+
+"How perfectly lovely. What is the play?"
+
+"Oh, dear, we haven't come to that yet. We did think some of having
+'Alice in Wonderland,' but that has been done so often. We were wishing
+for something original."
+
+"Why don't you get Cousin Ben to help you? He has so many funny things
+to say about the woodsy creatures."
+
+"The very one. Why didn't we think of him before, Agnes? He may be silly
+about some things, but he would certainly have ideas about that. Where
+is he, Edna?"
+
+"He has gone in town, and won't be back till late in the afternoon."
+
+"Trust you for keeping track of his movements," said Celia laughing. "I
+don't believe Ben yawns but Edna knows it. Well, we will see what he
+says this evening."
+
+"Couldn't you and he come to our house after supper?" asked Agnes.
+
+"I'll find out and 'phone you when he comes in. He doesn't generally
+have anything special on hand Saturdays, unless something is going on at
+the Abercrombies'."
+
+This gave Edna a new theme to think of and in consequence she did not
+find it hard to keep from talking of Nettie's secret when she and
+Dorothy met that afternoon.
+
+They took the news of the probable play to Margaret who wanted at once
+to tell Mrs. MacDonald about it. She showed great interest and asked all
+sorts of questions. "Why couldn't you have it here in my grounds?" she
+asked. "There is a good place just back of the house where the terrace
+is. I hope you will let it be Margaret's meeting and let me furnish
+everything."
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Mac, there will be ever and ever so many people, for we are
+going to ask our families and the teachers and all those." Edna was
+quite overpowered.
+
+"Well, what of that? Haven't I as much right to entertain them as any of
+the others have, and have I less room than my neighbors?"
+
+"Why, no, you have more."
+
+"Very well, then. I put in my plea the first one and I hope you will lay
+it before your next meeting." She spoke almost as if she were angry but
+there was a merry little twinkle in her eyes which the girls had come to
+know well. The next words were, "Go out, Margaret, and ask Lizzie to
+send in some of the day's baking for your friends. There must be scones,
+or something of that kind." The girls liked the Scotchy things, as they
+called them, that Mrs. MacDonald had for them, and the hot scones, with
+a "wee bittie" of honey or jam were generally as pleasant a treat as
+they found anywhere.
+
+When Edna had returned from her visit she told Celia of what Mrs.
+MacDonald had offered and before they had finished talking of it, Cousin
+Ben came in, and was immediately set upon, though Edna ran out to meet
+him in the hall that she might whisper, "Did you leave it all right?"
+
+"First thing," he returned. "It couldn't have been an hour from the time
+I left you before it was at the office."
+
+"Oh, goody, goody!" exclaimed Edna softly, patting her hands together.
+"Agnes has been here, Cousin Ben, and Celia wants to ask you something.
+Come into the library, please."
+
+He followed her in and the subject was opened to him of the little fairy
+play.
+
+He shook his head. "Can't promise. That's a good deal to spring on a
+fellow unbeknownst. I'll have to think about it."
+
+"But can't you go over to Agnes's this evening to talk it over?" asked
+Celia.
+
+Now Ben admired Agnes very much, though he would not have it known for
+the world. "I was going to Abercrombies," he said with apparent
+reluctance.
+
+"Oh, but you see Will Abercrombie every day," said Celia coaxingly, "and
+we do so want to have your help, Ben."
+
+"Well, perhaps I can 'phone to Will not to expect me," said Ben giving
+in. "But if I take hold of this thing you girls will all have to do your
+part."
+
+"Oh, we will," Celia promised earnestly. "We are none of us up to an
+original play, but you are."
+
+"Such flattery," laughed Ben. "Well, if I am going to call on ladies I
+must go up and make myself look respectable."
+
+"He'll do it," said Celia, as soon as her cousin had left the room. "He
+has as good as promised."
+
+Whatever was said that evening was not reported, but it is enough to say
+that Ben had promised to see what he could do, and would let them know
+later when he had gone over the subject more thoroughly, so with this
+the girls had to be satisfied.
+
+There was no more to be heard of either puzzle or play during the week
+while school was occupying them all, but on Friday Mrs. MacDonald's
+offer was presented to the club and unanimously accepted with thanks.
+
+There was no delay in Edna's demand for the evening paper on that
+Friday, but to her great disappointment her father found that he had
+left it in the car, and there was no way to get another copy till the
+next day. Edna was almost in tears, for she had so counted on letting
+Nettie know the very first thing in the morning.
+
+"I am so sorry," said her father. "I forgot entirely that the Friday
+issue was the one in which you are always so interested. I will bring
+you out a copy to-morrow, daughter. I will try not to forget it, but I
+give you leave to call me up on the long distance, or rather the
+out-of-town line and get you to remind me. If you will call, say, at
+about ten o'clock, I will send one of the boys out for it from the
+office."
+
+This was certainly more than Edna had any right to expect, and she
+thanked him as heartily as she could, though deep down in her heart the
+disappointment still lingered and she felt that it would be harder still
+for Nettie to wait another day.
+
+However, she went early to the little house as she had promised, and saw
+Nettie at the window on the watch for her. She looked so pleased when
+she saw her friend that Edna was all the more grieved at having to tell
+her she must wait till evening. "Oh, I am so glad you have come," cried
+Nettie as she met her at the door. "I have been watching for you for
+ages." And she drew her inside.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A DOWNFALL OF PRIDE
+
+
+"Oh, Edna, Edna!" Nettie jumped up and down and fairly hugged her friend
+in her joy.
+
+"Why, why," Edna began, but Nettie interrupted her with "I have it! I
+have it!"
+
+"Have what?" Edna was still mystified.
+
+"The prize! The prize! I won it. The money came in the mail this
+morning."
+
+Edna had not counted on this possibility and it was as much of a
+surprise to her as it had been to Nettie. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" she cried, and
+she, too, began to dance up and down hugging Nettie as fervently as
+Nettie had hugged her. "Have you told your mother?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I couldn't possibly keep it."
+
+"Do show me what they said." So Nettie took her in and showed her the
+precious letter with the enclosed order for a dollar, which made it seem
+a very real thing.
+
+"Ben will be so pleased," said Edna with satisfaction. "It is really
+owing to him that it got there soon enough."
+
+"And to you for helping me and for telling me in the first place. I
+think I ought to divide with you."
+
+"Why, Nettie Black, you won't do any such thing. Don't you know that it
+was all on your account that we did it in the first place?"
+
+"Ye-es, but after your doing so much it doesn't seem fair for you to
+have none of it."
+
+"I'll have some of the refreshments, won't I?"
+
+Nettie laughed. "I hope so."
+
+"Have you decided what you will have?"
+
+"Not exactly. I thought I would wait till you came to talk it over with
+mother. You said something about gingerbread and my mother can make the
+nicest you ever saw."
+
+"Would she make some for you? I wonder if it would cost very much. None
+of the girls have had gingerbread, and I am sure it would be liked."
+
+"Then let's go see what mother says."
+
+Mrs. Black was in the kitchen making bread for her Saturday baking. She
+smiled on the two children's eager faces which showed that something of
+unusual interest was going on. "Mother," began Nettie, "you know I am to
+have the club meeting after a while, and it is to be at the general
+club-room at Miss Agnes Evans's house, and you know we always have
+refreshments," Nettie spoke as if she had already attended every
+meeting, when that of the afternoon before had been her very first.
+
+"Yes, I remember you told me, dear," said her mother.
+
+"And I told you that was why we tried for the puzzle prize, so that I
+could pay for my refreshments. Does gingerbread cost very much?"
+
+"No, my dear, it costs less than any other kind of cake."
+
+"But how much? I mean how much would it cost to make enough for--for
+fourteen girls?"
+
+"Why, not a great deal. I could bake them in the little scalloped pans
+so they would be more crusty. I don't believe it would cost more than
+twenty-five cents, for you know we have our own eggs."
+
+"Good! Then what else could I have? We can't have more than three
+things."
+
+"Let me think for a minute and I will perhaps be able to suggest
+something." She went on kneading her bread while the children watched
+her. Presently she said: "I have a bottle of raspberry shrub that your
+Aunt Henrietta gave me and which we have never used. Would you like to
+have that? I can recommend it as a very nice drink, and I should be very
+glad to donate it."
+
+"Would it be nice?" Nettie looked at Edna for endorsement.
+
+"I think it would be perfectly delicious," she decided, "and nobody has
+had anything like that. We have had ginger ale and lemonade, and
+chocolate and such things."
+
+"Then, mother, that will be very nice, thank you," said Nettie, as if
+Edna were at the other end of a telephone wire. "Now for number three.
+I shall have ever so much to spend on that, so I could have most
+anything."
+
+"What have the other girls had?" Mrs. Black asked Edna.
+
+"Oh, different things. Some have had sandwiches and chocolate and some
+kind of candy, and some have had ice cream and cake and candy; some have
+had--let me see--cake and lemonade and fruit, but the third thing is
+generally some kind of candy."
+
+"Do you remember what Uncle David sent us last week?" Mrs. Black asked
+Nettie.
+
+"The maple sugar? Oh, yes, but would it be nice to have just little
+chunks of maple sugar?"
+
+"No, but don't you know what delicious creamy candies we made by boiling
+and stirring it? Why not do some of it that way? It would be a little
+out of the usual run, and quite unlike what is bought at the shops."
+
+"What do you think, Edna?" Nettie again appealed to her friend.
+
+"I think it would be fine. Oh, Nettie you will have things that aren't a
+bit like anyone else has had and they will all be so good. I am sure the
+girls will say so."
+
+Nettie beamed. This was such a pleasant thing to hear. "But I haven't
+spent but twenty-five cents of my prize money," she said.
+
+"Are you so very sorry for that?" her mother asked.
+
+"No, but--Is it all mine, mother, to do what I choose with, even if I
+don't spend it for the club?"
+
+"Why, of course, my dear. You earned it, and if I am able to help you
+out a little that should make no difference."
+
+"Then I think I know what I should like to do with it. I shall make two
+secrets of it and one I shall tell you, mother, and the other I can tell
+Edna."
+
+"Tell me mine now," said Edna getting down from the chair.
+
+Nettie took her off into the next room where there was much whispering
+for the next few minutes. "I shall get something for mother," Nettie
+explained. "I don't know exactly what but I will find out what she needs
+the most."
+
+"I think that is a perfectly lovely plan," agreed Edna. "Now I must go
+back and tell Ben, for he will want to know. You come up this afternoon,
+Nettie, won't you?"
+
+Nettie promised, and after Edna had gone she said to her mother,
+"Mother, I think I will spend part of my money on a birthday gift for
+Edna. It was all her doings about the puzzle and I would like to have
+her have something I could buy with the money. Will you help me?"
+
+"Indeed I will, my dear, and I think that is an excellent plan."
+
+So Nettie had her two secrets and in time both gifts were given.
+
+Her meeting was an interesting one. The girls always liked the old attic
+and it was seldom that a meeting there did not turn out to be one which
+was thoroughly enjoyed. The refreshments received even more praise than
+Edna had predicted, for not a crumb of gingerbread, not a single
+maple-sugar cream, nor a drop of raspberry shrub was left, and the
+honorary member went home in an exalted frame of mind.
+
+On the very evening of this meeting, while Edna was looking over her
+favorite page of her father's paper, she heard him say to his wife.
+"Humph. That was a bad failure of Green and Adams to-day. Adams was a
+pretty high-flyer, and a good many of the men on the 'Change have been
+prophesying this crash."
+
+"What Adams is that?" asked Mrs. Conway.
+
+"Oliver Adams. He lives on the square, you know, in that large white
+house with the lions in front."
+
+Edna pricked up her ears. "Is it Clara Adams's father?" she asked.
+
+"Does she live on the square?" asked her mother.
+
+"Yes, in a big white house with lions in front just like father said."
+
+"Then, of course, it is the same."
+
+"What has happened to him, mother?"
+
+"He has lost a great deal of money, dear?"
+
+"Oh, poor Clara."
+
+"I'm afraid she will be poor Clara sure enough," returned her father.
+"He can't keep up that way of living very long. His wife is as
+extravagant as he is, and I doubt if there is much left out of the
+estate."
+
+Edna wondered if Clara would have to live in a tiny, little house like
+Nettie's and if she would be very unhappy. Would she leave school,
+and--There were so many wonderings that she asked her mother a great
+many questions, and went off on Monday morning feeling quite ready to
+give Clara all the sympathy she needed.
+
+But Clara was not at school on Monday, but on the next day she appeared.
+The news of her father's failure was common talk so that every girl in
+school had heard of it, and wondered if it would have any effect on
+Clara. For a time it did not, but in a short time it was whispered about
+that the Adamses had removed to another street and into a much smaller
+house. Clara no longer came to school in the automobile, and those girls
+who had clung to her on account of the powers of riches now openly
+deserted, declared that she had left their neighborhood and in
+consequence could no longer belong to their club. Then in a little while
+it was announced that the club had disbanded, and the remaining members
+came in a body and begged that they might be taken into the G. R.'s.
+There was much discussion. Some were for, some were against it, but
+finally the rule of the club was acted upon and the five new members
+took their places, leaving Clara in lonely grandeur. She treated this
+desertion with such open scorn and was so very unpleasant to those who
+had formerly been her friends, that they turned their backs upon her
+utterly, declaring that they would rather pay a fine every day in the
+week than be nice to Clara Adams.
+
+"Hateful thing!" Edna heard Nellie Haskell say one day quite loud
+enough for Clara to hear. "She's kept us out of a lot of fun and we
+were geese to keep in with her so long. I'm sorry I ever had anything to
+do with her. I think she is the most disagreeable girl that ever was."
+
+Edna looked over at Clara who was sitting very still by herself on a
+bench in one corner of the playground. She looked after the three girls
+who had just passed and were now walking down the path with their arms
+around one another. So had she seen them with Clara not so very long
+before. She thought she would go over and say something to her old
+enemy, but what to say--She had no good excuse. Then she remembered an
+exceedingly pretty paper-doll which had been sent her by her Cousin
+Louis Morrison. His aunt had painted it and it was much handsomer than
+one ordinarily saw. Edna had it in the book she carried. She drew in
+her breath quickly, then started over to Clara's corner.
+
+"Don't you want to see my paper-doll?" she asked. "It is such a beauty."
+And without waiting for an answer she opened her book and held out the
+doll for Clara to see. It was given rather a grudging glance, but it was
+really too pretty not to be admired and Clara replied with a show of
+indifference, "It is quite pretty, isn't it?"
+
+Edna sat down by her. "I will show you some of her dresses," she went
+on. Clara loved paper-dolls, and she could not but be a little
+interested. Anything which was painted or drawn was of more interest to
+her than most things. She had shown her talent in that way by the fatal
+caricature.
+
+"Somebody told me you could make mighty pretty paper-dolls," Edna went
+on, bound to make herself agreeable.
+
+"I do make them sometimes," replied Clara a little more graciously, "but
+I could never make any as pretty as this. I can copy things pretty well,
+but I can't make them up myself."
+
+For a moment Edna struggled with herself. The doll was a new and very
+precious possession, but--She hesitated only a moment and then she said:
+"Would you like to copy this? I will lend it to you if you would like
+to."
+
+There was a time when Clara might have spurned even this kind offer,
+setting it down as "trying to get in" with her, but her pride and vanity
+had received a blow when the Neighborhood Club was broken up and she
+cast forth, and she took the offer in the spirit in which it was meant.
+"Oh, would you do that?" she said. "I should love to copy it and I will
+take awfully good care of the doll."
+
+"You can take it now," said Edna laying the doll on the other's lap.
+There should be no chance for her to change her mind. Clara slipped the
+doll into one of her books and just then the bell rang, so they went in
+together.
+
+After school Dorothy clutched her chum. "Edna Conway," she cried, "did I
+see you talking to Clara Adams?"
+
+"Um-huh," returned Edna.
+
+"Well, you are the greatest one. I should think after all she has done
+that you would want to keep as far away from her as possible."
+
+"Well," said Edna. "I said I was going to be nice to her if ever I had
+the chance and I had the chance."
+
+"If you are going with her, I can tell you that all the girls will turn
+their backs on you."
+
+"I didn't say I was going with her all the time, but I don't see why I
+can't speak to her if I want to."
+
+"Oh, I suppose you can speak, but I shouldn't do much more than that."
+
+Edna made no reply. She had her own ideas of what she meant to do.
+
+"Where is your paper-doll?" asked Dorothy, "I want to show it to Agnes."
+
+"I haven't it with me," returned Edna a little confusedly.
+
+"You had it when we went down to recess. Is it in your desk? Go on and
+get it, that is a dear. Agnes wants to see it."
+
+"It isn't in my desk. I haven't it," returned Edna bluntly.
+
+"You don't mean to say you have given it away? Edna Conway, you can't
+have given it to Clara Adams!" Dorothy's voice expressed horror and
+dismay.
+
+"No, I haven't _given_ it to her; I only lent it to her," replied Edna.
+
+"Well, of all things!" Dorothy was stricken dumb for a moment. Then she
+put her arms around her friend and hugged her. "You are an angel," she
+said. "I couldn't have done such a thing to save me, and I don't believe
+there is another girl in the school who could. I'm going to tell Agnes."
+
+"Oh, please don't," begged Edna.
+
+But Dorothy was off and presently Agnes came over to where the two had
+been standing. "What did you lend Clara your doll for, Edna?" she asked.
+
+"Because I didn't want to pay a fine," replied she.
+
+Agnes laughed. "That is one way out of it. I suppose the next thing we
+know you will be proposing that we ask Clara Adams into our club. Half
+the girls will leave if you do, I can promise you that."
+
+This was something very like a threat, and it had the effect Agnes meant
+it should, though it did not prevent Edna from making plans of her own
+concerning Clara. She smiled at her as she took her seat in class the
+next morning, and for the very first time in all her life she received
+from Clara a smile in return.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A NEW MEMBER
+
+
+During this time Miss Newman had not won more than respect from her
+girls. She was an excellent teacher and kept good order, but she had too
+severe a manner to call forth affection. Nevertheless she did appreciate
+any little kindness done her, and was not unwilling to repay when the
+opportunity came. Dorothy and Edna had always stood up for her, and had
+brought her the small gifts which children like to take their teachers,
+a particularly large and rosy apple, a bunch of flowers, a more
+important present at Christmas and a growing plant at Easter. They did
+not know much about her home life, for she was not the affable person
+Miss Ashurst had been. Uncle Justus had told Edna that she lived with an
+invalid sister in quite a different quarter of the city, and that she
+had a long way to come to school.
+
+One spring afternoon as Celia and Edna were starting forth, a sudden
+shower overtook them. They were going home every day now as they had
+done in the early fall, and were hurrying for their train when they saw
+Miss Newman just ahead of them without an umbrella. "There's Miss
+Newman," said Edna to her sister, "and she has no umbrella; I'm going to
+give her mine and come under yours, Celia," then before Celia could say
+a word she ran on ahead. "Please take my umbrella, Miss Newman," she
+said. "I can go under Celia's."
+
+"But you may need it before Monday," said Miss Newman.
+
+"Oh, no, I won't, for I am going straight home. We are to have a club
+meeting at the Evanses this afternoon, or I should not be in such a
+hurry."
+
+"And I am in a hurry, too," said Miss Newman, "for I am very anxious to
+get home to my sister. Thank you very much for the umbrella. I should
+have had to go in somewhere, it is pouring so, and that would have
+delayed me."
+
+By this time Celia came up and Edna slipped under her sister's umbrella.
+They took their car at the next corner, but they saw Miss Newman
+standing on the other side waiting for the car which should come along
+somewhat later. "Poor thing," said Edna as she looked from the car
+window; "she would have been soaked, Celia, if she had had to stand
+there without an umbrella, and she has a cold now."
+
+Celia smiled. "I believe you would love a chimpanzee, or a snake,
+Edna."
+
+"I think little green snakes are very pretty," returned Edna calmly.
+"Cousin Ben likes them, too. He showed me one in the grass last Sunday.
+I felt sorry for it because nearly everybody hates snakes, and Cousin
+Ben said this one was perfectly harmless."
+
+"I draw the line at snakes," returned Celia. "I suppose you feel sorry
+for Miss Newman."
+
+"Yes, I do; she is so unpretty."
+
+Celia laughed. "That is a delicate way of putting it, I am sure. Well, I
+am glad she has one friend; no doubt she needs it. Most of the girls
+aren't so ready to say nice things of her as they were of Miss Ashurst."
+
+"I know it," replied Edna, "and that is one reason Dorothy and I stand
+up for her. We say suppose we were as--as ugly as that, and had to go a
+long, long way to school every day to teach horrid girls who didn't be
+nice to us, how would we like it?"
+
+"She looks like a cross old thing," returned Celia rather flippantly.
+
+"She isn't exactly cross, but she isn't the kind you can lean up against
+and say 'what a pretty tie you have on,' as we did with Miss Ashurst.
+Celia, I am afraid Miss Newman never will get married."
+
+Celia laughed. "Perhaps she doesn't want to. Everyone doesn't, you
+know."
+
+This was rather beyond Edna's comprehension, and she sat pondering over
+the extraordinary statement till the car reached the station. She
+arrived early in the school-room on Monday morning to find Miss Newman
+already there. She looked up with a smile as the little girl entered. "I
+brought back your umbrella," she said. "I don't know what I should have
+done without it. I left my sister rather worse than usual and I wanted
+very much to get home as soon as possible."
+
+"Is your sister ill?" asked Edna
+
+"She is never very well. When she was a little girl, younger than you,
+she fell and hurt her spine. She has never been well since, and at times
+suffers very much."
+
+"How was she this morning?" asked Edna sympathetically.
+
+"She was much better. I left her sitting on the porch in the sun. She
+can walk only a few steps, you see, and sometimes has to be lifted from
+place to place."
+
+"Who lifts her?" Edna was much interested at this peep into Miss
+Newman's life.
+
+"I do when I am there, for I know just how to do it without hurting
+her."
+
+"Will she sit there all day where you left her?"
+
+"Oh, no, for she has a wheeling chair and the old woman who lives with
+us can wheel her in when she is ready to go."
+
+"Tell me some more." Edna leaned her elbows on the table and looked at
+her teacher with a wistful look. She did feel so very sorry for this
+poor sister who could not walk.
+
+"She is a very cheerful, bright person," Miss Newman went on, "and
+everyone loves her. She is very fond of children and is continually
+doing something for those in the neighborhood. It is far from being a
+wealthy street, and back of us there are many very poor people. At
+Christmas we had a tree for the ones who couldn't have one at home, and
+my sister made nearly everything on it, such pretty things they were,
+too. There was a present for each child."
+
+"I think that was perfectly lovely," said Edna. This was the kind of
+thing that appealed to her. "What is your sister's name?"
+
+"Her name is Eloise."
+
+"I think that is a beautiful name. I should like very much to see her."
+
+"She would like very much to see you, for she knows every one of my
+class, and asks about each one when I go home. You see she cannot go out
+into the world where I go, I have to take what I can of it to her." It
+was evident that this was the subject which was nearest to the teacher's
+heart, and that when talking of it she showed the gentlest side of her
+nature. "How would you like to go home with me this afternoon to see
+her, you and Dorothy Evans?"
+
+"I would love to go, but are you sure she would like to have us come?"
+
+"I don't know of anything that would please her more. She has never seen
+one of my pupils and has often longed to, for as I told you she has to
+see the world through my eyes, and anything that interests me interests
+her."
+
+"I'll tell Dorothy as soon as she comes and I will ask Celia if I may
+go. Thank you, Miss Newman for inviting us." Then a number of girls came
+in and school was called to order before Edna had a chance to speak to
+her sister.
+
+At recess, however, the matter was talked over, both Agnes and Celia
+listening attentively. "I don't think they ought to go home with Miss
+Newman," decided Agnes, "for she probably has dinner as soon as she gets
+home and it would make extra trouble. If they could go later it might be
+all right. I'd better go and talk to Miss Newman myself, then we can
+tell better what can be done." She went off and soon came back to say
+that she had arranged to go with the little girls later in the
+afternoon. "We can take a car from there which will connect with our
+line and in that way we shall not have to come all the way back into the
+city."
+
+But a better arrangement than that was made, for when Margaret and
+Jennie heard of the affair they were so eager to be included in the
+party, that Miss Newman noticing their wistfulness, asked if they, too,
+would come. "There is nothing my sister likes better than to have a
+company of children around her to whom she can tell some tale. She is a
+great one for that, and often has as many as a dozen children on the
+porch," she told them.
+
+"Then, I will tell you what we can do," said Jennie. "I know mother will
+say we may all go in the motor-car, and I can take you girls home just
+as well as not. I will call mother up now and tell her all about it." So
+in a few minutes the whole matter was arranged by telephone. The three
+little girls, Edna, Dorothy and Margaret were to go home with Jennie to
+luncheon and then they would make the start from there.
+
+"That is just like the Ramseys," said Agnes, "they always come forward
+at just the right moment and do the thing that makes it pleasantest all
+around. Now we can go home at the usual time, Celia feeling perfectly
+safe about the girls."
+
+Therefore about three o'clock on this bright afternoon in May they set
+forth in the automobile which was to take them to Miss Newman's and call
+for them later. Through a very unfamiliar part of the city they went
+till they came to a short street with a row of small houses on each
+side. Each house had a garden in front and a porch. In the very last one
+which had more ground around it than the rest, Miss Newman lived. The
+porch was covered with vines and in the garden there was a perfect
+wealth of flowers. A bird-cage in which a canary was singing, hung near
+the window. One end of the porch was screened by a bamboo shade. It was
+a very pretty nesty little place. Huddled down in a chair, with her head
+supported by pillows was Miss Eloise who smiled up at the girls as Miss
+Newman brought them forward one after another. Miss Eloise had a much
+more lovely face than her sister. Her eyes were beautiful, she had
+quantities of wavy dark hair, a sweet mouth and a delicate nose. The
+hand she held out was so small and fragile that when Edna clasped it in
+her plump fingers it seemed almost as if she were holding the claws of
+some bird.
+
+"So this is Edna," she said. "She looks just as I thought she did.
+Dorothy I know her by her hair, and Margaret because she is the tallest
+of them, so of course the one left must be Jennie. I am so pleased to
+see you all. Sister, will you wheel me just a little further back so
+there will be more room for us all?"
+
+Miss Newman was quick to spring to her sister's side, wheeling the chair
+at just the right angle, settling the pillows, and then passing her hand
+caressingly over Miss Eloise's dark locks. The girls could not imagine
+her so tender.
+
+"I hope you are feeling well to-day," began Edna to start the
+conversation.
+
+"Who wouldn't feel well in such glorious weather. It is such a beautiful
+world, and has so many interesting things in it. How is your sister,
+Edna?"
+
+"She is very well," replied Edna, surprised that Miss Eloise should know
+she had a sister.
+
+"And yours, Dorothy? I hear she is such a sweet, pretty girl."
+
+Dorothy likewise surprised, made answer that Agnes was very well and
+would have come with them but that the four of them came in the Ramseys'
+motor-car.
+
+"And wasn't it fun to see it come whirling up?" said Miss Eloise. "It
+was the very first time a motor-car ever came to our door, and I was
+excited over it. I think it was very sweet of Mrs. Ramsey to give me
+this pleasure, and, Margaret I cannot tell you how I enjoyed the flowers
+you used to bring to sister in the winter. Your mother must have the
+loveliest greenhouse. I never saw such fine big stalks of mignonette. We
+shall have mignonette a little later, for our flowers are coming on
+finely. As for the books you all gave sister at Christmas they have been
+a perfect feast. I am so glad to have you here and to be able to thank
+you for all the things you have done to make the long winter go more
+quickly for me."
+
+The girls looked at one another. If they had known what their little
+gifts were to mean, how many times they could have added to them. They
+had not a word to say for they had not understood how a little ripple of
+kindness may widen till it touches an unknown shore.
+
+"Now tell me about your club," Miss Eloise went on. "I should so like to
+hear what you did at the last meeting. Sister tells me all she can, but
+she doesn't have a chance to learn as much as I should like. I am so
+greedy, you see. I am like a child who says when you tell it a story,
+and think you have finished, 'Tell on.' I am always crying 'Tell on.' It
+is the most beautiful club I ever heard of and I am sorry I am not a
+little girl at your school so I could belong to it and enjoy the good
+times with you."
+
+"But, darling, you have your own little club," said her sister, "and you
+are always thinking of what you can do for others."
+
+"Oh, I know, but I live in such a tiny little world, and my 'little
+drops of water, little grains of sand' are such wee things."
+
+"They mean a great deal more than you imagine," said her sister gently.
+"I am sure I could never live without them."
+
+"Oh, that is because you make so much of me and what I do. She is a
+great sister," she said nodding to the girls. "She is a regular Atlas
+because she has to bring her world home on her back every day to me.
+Yes, indeed. Perhaps you don't think I am aware of all that goes on in
+that school-room. Why I even know when one of you misses a lesson, and
+if you will let me tell you a secret, I actually cried the day Clara
+Adams did the caricature."
+
+"Oh, dear, oh, dear," Edna could not help sighing aloud while the other
+girls looked as much ashamed as if they had done the thing themselves.
+However, when Miss Eloise saw this she broke into a laugh and began to
+tell them of some very funny thing she had seen from the porch that
+morning, then followed one funny tale after another till the girls were
+all laughing till the tears ran down their cheeks. Miss Eloise had the
+drollest way of telling things, and the merriest laugh herself. After a
+while Miss Newman went inside and presently came out with a tray on
+which were glasses of lemonade and a plate of small cakes. These were
+passed around, and much enjoyed.
+
+"Now tell them one of your stories," said Miss Newman to her sister.
+
+"Shall I make up a new one or shall I tell them one of the old ones?"
+
+"Tell them the one the Maginnis children like so much."
+
+The children settled themselves in pleased anticipation, and a marvelous
+tale they listened to. Miss Eloise had a wonderful gift of story-telling
+and made every incident seem real and every character to stand out as
+vividly as if he or she were actually before them. The children listened
+in wrapt attention. She was a wonder to them.
+
+The tale was scarcely over when up came the motor-car with Mrs. Ramsey
+in it. She stepped out and came in the gate and up to the porch. "I
+wanted to come, too, Miss Newman," she said. "I hope you don't mind."
+
+"Oh, mother," cried Jennie, "you are just too late to hear the most
+beautiful story ever was."
+
+"Now isn't that too bad?" said Mrs. Ramsey. "I feel guilty to interrupt
+this pleasant party, but I am afraid I shall have to take these girls
+home for it is getting late."
+
+However, she did not hurry them and there was time for her to have a
+little talk with both Miss Newman and Miss Eloise. Just as she was about
+to take her leave she asked, "Do you think you would be able to take a
+little ride in the motor-car, Miss Eloise, if I were to come for you
+some day?"
+
+"Oh, sister, could I?" Miss Eloise turned to Miss Newman, her eyes like
+stars. "I haven't been off this street for years," she said to Mrs.
+Ramsey.
+
+"We would be very careful," said Mrs. Ramsey, seeing that Miss Newman
+looked doubtful. "The man could wheel the chair out to the car and could
+lift her in. It runs very smoothly and we would not go too fast nor on
+any of the streets which are not asphalt."
+
+"Oh, sister!" Miss Eloise looked as pleadingly as any child.
+
+"I have never wheeled her further than the corner," said Miss Newman,
+"for fear of the jolting when we had to go over the curb, but some day
+when she is feeling her best--"
+
+"You will let me know--" put in Mrs. Ramsey eagerly. "Of course you will
+go, too, Miss Newman, and as soon as you think she has gone far enough
+we can come back. You know it is quite smooth and the riding easy going
+even as far as Brookside."
+
+"Why that is our station," spoke up Edna.
+
+Mrs. Ramsey nodded and smiled, and they said their good-bys leaving Miss
+Eloise feeling as if a new world were to open to her.
+
+Of course Mrs. Ramsey listened to a full account of all that had gone on
+during the afternoon, and was deeply interested in the two sisters. "I
+just love Miss Newman," declared Dorothy. "She is the sweetest thing to
+her sister."
+
+"They just adore one another," Jennie told her mother. "Miss Newman
+seems like some one else when I think of her now. I am so glad we went."
+
+"So am I," replied her mother.
+
+"And Miss Eloise knows all about our club and is so interested in it,"
+Edna remarked. "Girls, we must always tell Miss Newman about the
+meetings after this so she can tell Miss Eloise all that goes on."
+
+"Of course we must," they agreed.
+
+"I know something better than that you could do," Mrs. Ramsey told them.
+"Why not make Miss Eloise an honorary member as you did Nettie Black? I
+think you could stretch your rule far enough not to make it out of the
+way to have one grown up person, when it is such a character as Miss
+Eloise. She could be the exception who will prove the rule."
+
+"But, Mrs. Ramsey, she couldn't come to the meetings." Dorothy reminded
+her.
+
+"No, but you could take turns in going to her; I mean you could appoint
+a committee of two to go to her each week and tell her about the
+previous meeting, then once in a while when she felt able, you could
+meet at her house."
+
+"What a perfectly fine plan," cried Edna. "Will you tell Agnes and Celia
+about it, Mrs. Ramsey?"
+
+"Why certainly, if you like."
+
+"Now? This afternoon when you take us to our houses, Dorothy and me?"
+
+"I don't see any objection."
+
+The upshot of this was that Miss Eloise was admitted to the club to her
+intense delight. After Agnes and Celia had been to see her they were so
+enthusiastic that all the girls in the club by twos and threes paid her
+visits, and she came to know them every one.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE FLOWER PLAY
+
+
+As the time approached for the flower play to be given attention there
+was considerable anxiety on the part of those who had taken it in hand.
+Ben declared that while he could do the main part of the work all right,
+he must have help of the girls in certain directions. "I'm no good at
+all when it comes to dialogue," he told them. "I can do the mechanical
+part, get the thing into shape for the stage, give you the general plot
+and all that, but you'll have to do the dialogue."
+
+"Oh, but Ben," said Agnes, "suppose we can't."
+
+"Then it will have to fall through."
+
+The girls looked very sober over this; they realized that Ben was giving
+them more than they had any right to expect, and they could not ask him
+to give his studies second place. "Well," said Agnes rather dolefully,
+"we'll have to do the best we can."
+
+"Angels can do no more," returned Ben, "and since you are so near to
+that class of beings you ought to be able to do something pretty fine."
+
+The compliment had the effect of bringing a smile to Agnes's face and so
+the matter rested for that day. However, it was a subject which could
+not be allowed to rest for very long as the time was fast approaching
+when the parts must be given out for the girls to study. "And there will
+have to be ever so many rehearsals," said Agnes woefully to Celia as
+they were talking it over together on the Conways' porch.
+
+"We don't seem to make a bit of headway," said Celia. "What we have
+written sounds so silly and flat. I'm afraid it will never be the kind
+of thing we hoped for."
+
+"Ben has a lovely little plot and all the ideas he has given us about
+the scenes and the dressing of the characters and the funny situations
+are mighty good," returned Agnes, "it does seem as if between us all we
+ought to be able to do the rest when we have eighteen regular members in
+the club and two honorary ones."
+
+Edna who was sitting on the top step listening attentively to all this,
+looked up. "Why don't you ask Miss Eloise to help you? She would love
+to, and she tells such beautiful, beautiful stories, you know."
+
+"That is a brilliant idea," returned Agnes, "but she says she can never
+write them, she can only tell them."
+
+"But couldn't she tell what to say and one of you write it down?"
+
+Agnes looked at Celia and Celia looked at Agnes. "She has struck it, I
+do believe," cried Celia.
+
+"Edna, honey, you are a child worth knowing," said Agnes. "The idea of
+your thinking of such a simple way out of the trouble when the rest of
+us were fumbling around for ideas. Of course that can be done, and as
+you say, I have no doubt but that Miss Eloise will be perfectly
+delighted to do anything she can for the club. Where is Ben? Do hunt him
+up, Edna, that's a good child."
+
+As Edna generally knew Ben's haunts she was not long in finding him. He
+was much interested in what she had to say, threw down the book he was
+studying and went with her to join the girls. He was really very anxious
+to please them all and would go to almost any lengths to do it.
+
+"Ben," cried Agnes as he came up on the porch. "Isn't that a fine scheme
+that Edna has thought of?"
+
+"I should smile, and I have thought of just the stunt to get it in shape
+the quickest. If one of you girls will go with me to present me to the
+lady, I can take down what she says in shorthand and knock it off on the
+type-writer afterward. Then we'll all get together, you two girls, Miss
+Eloise and yours truly, and we'll put the whole thing into shape in
+double-quick time. How does that strike you?"
+
+"Ben, you have saved our lives. When can you go to see Miss Eloise? This
+afternoon? It is Saturday and you haven't anything on hand more
+important than foot-ball, have you?"
+
+"Do not speak slightingly of my athletic sports, if you please. However,
+I can forego the delights of being mauled for one afternoon, I reckon,
+and am at your service, fair lady. When shall you want to start?"
+
+"Oh, right after luncheon, I think; as early as possible so as to have a
+good long afternoon. I do hope Miss Eloise is feeling fairly well
+to-day."
+
+"Miss Newman says she is better all the time nowadays, since she has so
+much more to interest her," piped up Edna. "She told me yesterday that
+she had not had one of those dreadful attacks for ever so long."
+
+"Then let us hope for the best," answered Ben.
+
+It was exactly as Edna had predicted; Miss Eloise entered into the plan
+with the greatest eagerness, and when Ben had opened up his plot to her
+and had showed her how he had planned the scenes she said she would take
+a few minutes to think it over and then she thought she could give him
+some of the needed dialogue, and before they left Ben had taken down as
+much as was necessary for this first time, promising to come back for
+the rest.
+
+"I'll get this into shape and bring it with me," he told Miss Eloise.
+
+"And we can make copies so as to give out that much for the girls to
+learn," said Agnes.
+
+They returned in high spirits, and for some time Ben's type-writing
+machine was heard clicking away. The characters had already been talked
+over and the principle ones given out. Ben had chosen very pretty
+fantastic names for the various flowers who were to be represented.
+Jennie was to be Pussy Willow; Edna, Pinky Blooms; Dorothy, Daisy White;
+Agnes, Rose Wild; Celia, Violet Blue, while Ben, himself was to be the
+old giant, Pine Knot, who lived in a swamp. It had been found necessary
+to introduce some of the boys into the play so Charlie and Frank
+Conway, Steve and Roger Porter were pressed into service. Charlie was to
+be Sassy Fras; Frank, Winter Green; Steve, Cran Berry, while Roger was
+to be the giant's henchman, Pine Needles.
+
+The play was not to be for a week after school closed that they all
+might have plenty of time for its preparation without interfering with
+their school work. There was never very much fuss made over the closing
+by Uncle Justus, so there was not that excitement. Mr. Horner did not
+believe in showy commencements, and when the girls were graduated they
+simply received their diplomas after a few simple exercises, and then
+the school was dismissed. Therefore, the play was the great subject of
+conversation among the scholars. The girls who were already in the club
+were triumphantly sounding its praises to those who were not, while
+those who were not in were clamoring for entrance. However, it had been
+decided that no more new members would be admitted until fall, as there
+was already enough heart-burning over the players and their parts. The
+giving out of these had been left entirely to Miss Eloise who had chosen
+as she thought best, so there was at least no one of the girls to accuse
+of partiality. Margaret in the very beginning announced that her mother
+did not want her to take part and that she did not care to herself, as
+she was to have the fun of entertaining them all at her house, and
+moreover, she "couldn't act any more than a broomstick."
+
+Of all the girls who felt the most bitter probably Clara Adams was the
+one who was chief among them. It was the greatest grievance she had ever
+known, in the first place not to take part in such a thing and in the
+second not even to be invited to the entertainment. Each girl in the
+club was allowed to ask two persons, and each one taking part in the
+play was allowed the same privilege, therefore, with her two brothers
+among the characters and her sister as well, Edna was free to ask anyone
+she chose. Mr. and Mrs. Horner had received an invitation from the whole
+club, so had Miss Newman, and the other teachers, and many of the pupils
+who were outside the charmed circle were invited by their schoolmates
+who were free to give invitations, only Clara Adams was not considered
+for a moment by anyone, and she was very miserable over the fact. If
+ever she regretted her past disagreeable treatment of her school
+fellows, it was now, but she would not have admitted this even to
+herself, although in her heart of hearts she was conscious of it being
+so.
+
+"I'm not coming back here to school next year," she announced to Edna
+one day. The two had little chats once in a while and, to do Clara
+justice, she did her best to be pleasant whenever Edna gave her the
+chance.
+
+"Oh, aren't you? Why not?" asked Edna.
+
+Clara was silent for a moment, then she said, quite honestly, "My father
+can't afford to send me to such an expensive school. I suppose I shall
+have to go to the public school." Then in a new accession of pride,
+"Anyhow, father likes the public school better."
+
+"Oh," Edna could not truthfully say she was sorry, for the fact, though
+she was sorry for the girl. She told the other girls what Clara had said
+and the gist of most of the responses was "Good riddance to bad
+rubbish." So it did not look very favorable for an enthusiastic farewell
+to poor Clara in the way of attentions to a departing friend. If anyone
+thought of her at all it was Edna, and she was too busy with all her
+other interests to give much regret to Clara.
+
+It was only when her mother asked her one day, "Has anyone invited Clara
+Adams to the great meeting of the club when you are to wind up the year
+with such a flourish?" that her conscience began to prick her.
+
+"Nobody has asked her," she answered, "and she is dying to come. She
+isn't coming back to school next year, you know."
+
+"Yes, I think you told me that. I feel very sorry for her. Of course,
+she is not at all the kind of child I should choose for a companion for
+my little girl, but I am very glad you have tried to be kind to her,
+though I cannot say I regret her leaving the school you attend."
+
+Edna was silent for a moment and so was her mother who presently asked:
+"Have you given out all your invitations, dear?"
+
+"No, mother, I still have one."
+
+"Whom did you send the other to?"
+
+"Miss Martin. She and her father were so nice to me at the fair you
+know, but one of the other girls has invited Mr. Martin."
+
+"I see. That was certainly a very good choice for you to make."
+
+"I can't quite decide about the other one," Edna went on. "I want to
+give it to the one who wants it most, of the two girls at school who
+would love to have it."
+
+"Is one of them Clara Adams?"
+
+"Oh, mother, no. Nobody wants her." Then after a silence, "I suppose she
+wants to come badder than anyone else, but--mother, do you think, do you
+really think I ought to invite her?"
+
+"Why, my dear, that is for you to decide."
+
+"Oh, dear," Edna gave a long sigh. Never in her life had she been more
+put to it to make up her mind. "I don't want to one bit," she declared
+after a moment's thought. "All of the girls will be down on me and say I
+am a silly goose and all that."
+
+"It is probably your very last chance of doing her a kindness as she
+will possibly not cross your path again," Mrs. Conway reminded her.
+
+Edna drew a longer sigh than before. The situation was getting harder
+and harder. "Mother," she said with a woebegone face, "why do the
+rightest things always be the hardest ones?"
+
+"I don't think they always are, dear child. Is this so very hard?"
+
+"Oh, yes. I think it is the hardest thing I most ever had to do. Even
+last year when those things about Louis worried me so, I didn't mind so
+much, for I was really fond of Louis. He was my cousin and it seemed
+more as if I ought to."
+
+"Well, dearie, suppose you think over it a while. You can keep back your
+invitation till the very last minute, you know, for if you do decide to
+let Clara have it, she will be glad to accept even at the eleventh hour,
+I am sure."
+
+"Suppose she should say horrid mean things and stir up a fuss as she
+does so many times, I should feel so badly."
+
+"I don't believe she would do that because she would be enjoying herself
+and would probably be on her best behavior. If you like, I will see that
+she sits next to me which would be quite right if she should be your
+guest, and it will not spoil my pleasure if she should make disagreeable
+remarks."
+
+Edna went over and leaned her elbows on her mother's lap, looking up in
+her face and asking. "What would you say to yourself if she made
+disagreeable remarks?"
+
+"I should say, 'Never mind; I am so happy that my own darling little
+girl made the sacrifice of asking her that nothing else matters much.'"
+
+"And you wouldn't say anything to her?"
+
+"I should, no doubt, say several things to her," replied Mrs. Conway
+kissing the eager face uplifted toward hers.
+
+Edna went over to the window and stood there a long time, but she saw
+none of the things she looked out upon. She was having a sharp struggle.
+Clara and her mother against all the girls in the club, that was the way
+it seemed to be, but finally the former conquered and she went back to
+where her mother still sat. "Mother," she said firmly, "I am going to
+invite Clara. I have made up my mind. Will you please ask Agnes and
+Celia to take my part?"
+
+"My blessed child, of course I will. What sort of a Golden Rule would it
+be that allowed a little girl to be chidden for carrying out its
+precepts. As president of your club, Agnes will surely see that you are
+acting upon its principles, and Celia, too, must see it. They must not
+let their enjoyment and their love of harmony make them forget that
+part."
+
+Then Edna snuggled very close to her mother and felt comforted. "I am
+not going to keep her from knowing," she said. "I'll tell her first
+thing, so she can have the fun of looking forward to it." When Edna did
+a thing there was no doing it by halves.
+
+Therefore it was a surprised and delighted Clara who received her
+invitation the next day, and to Edna's great satisfaction all the good
+in the girl rose to the occasion. "I think you are the very sweetest
+girl I ever knew, Edna Conway," she said, "and I am sorry, I really am,
+that I haven't always been friends with you. I was horrid, often I was,"
+and this was Edna's compensation.
+
+Such a flutter and flurry and whispering and giggling there was on that
+afternoon when everything was in readiness for the little flower play.
+There was quite a large audience gathered on the smooth green lawn where
+seats had been placed for them. The shrubs and flower beds with trees
+beyond made a fine background for the stretch of terrace, which became a
+stage for the occasion. Jennie in a fuzzy grayish brown frock with a
+hood, made a dear little Pussy Willow, Edna in pink with her rosy cheeks
+was the very picture of Pinky Blooms, Dorothy's golden head made a
+lovely centre for Daisy White, while as for Ben, the big giant, he was
+the roughest, toughest old Pine Knot one could imagine.
+
+"If only Miss Eloise could be here to see us," said Edna as she peeped
+from behind the leafy screen which hid the flower fairies from view.
+
+Dorothy was peeping, too, and presently she exclaimed, "She is here! Oh,
+Edna, she is here! See, they are bringing her now!" And sure enough,
+there in her wheeled chair was Miss Eloise, her lovely face all smiles
+as her sister and Mr. Ramsey pushed her chair along.
+
+"I do believe Mrs. Ramsey brought her out," cried Edna.
+
+"She did," Jennie told them, "I didn't tell, because I thought it would
+be such a nice surprise for everybody."
+
+A surprise it was indeed, and because of her presence, or because it is
+generally so, they all did much better than at any of their rehearsals
+and received such applause as quite overpowered them. Then Mr. Ramsey
+raised a call for "Author! Author!" So after some little delay Ben,
+still in his giant's dress, was brought around and wheeled Miss Eloise
+out to the very front where she was given another round of applause and
+more flowers than she could hold. She quite forgot herself in her
+anxiety that Ben should receive what was due to him and all unmindful of
+the large audience, she cried out, "Oh, but I did so little; it is all
+Ben's plan!"
+
+Then Ben was cheered, and in the midst of such very special
+demonstrations he beat a retreat.
+
+Clara established by Mrs. Conway's side had not a word of anything but
+praise and delight, and after the little players came out to mix with
+their friends she sought out Edna. "It was the loveliest thing I ever
+saw," she told her, "and I do thank you for letting me come."
+
+"She was really very decent," said the girls, looking after her as she
+started for home with her mother who called for her.
+
+Edna watched her out of sight, a feeling of pity mingled with gladness
+in her heart. And so Clara Adams passed out of her life, for before
+another year the entire family had moved out west, and the places which
+saw Clara Adams saw her no more.
+
+The stars were coming out before they all left Mrs. MacDonald's. The
+guests had taken their departure earlier and had been as complimentary
+as anyone could desire. Miss Eloise, tired but very happy, had gone off
+with the Ramseys in their motor-car. Edna, Dorothy and Margaret walked
+down to the gate to watch the sunset, all yellow and glowing.
+
+"Miss Newman looked almost pretty," said Dorothy. "She had such a dear
+frock on and her hair is much nicer the way she wore it to-day. I shall
+feel so very different about having her for a teacher next year."
+
+"So shall I," agreed Edna.
+
+Moggins, Margaret's cat had sought them out and was rubbing up against
+his little mistress. "Oh, you poor dear, I don't believe anyone has
+thought to give you your milk," said Margaret. So she went off with the
+cat in her arms.
+
+Then "Where are you, Dorothy?" cried her sister, and Dorothy scampered
+off that she might not be left behind on the homeward walk.
+
+Edna walked slowly toward the house. Halfway up the walk she met Uncle
+Justus. "I was just coming for you to walk home with me," he told her.
+"Your aunt and I are going to stay all night."
+
+"I'm glad of that," Edna replied slipping her hand into his.
+
+They walked on toward the road, quite silent for a few moments, till
+Edna looking up, said, "Uncle Justus, I think you have a perfectly
+lovely school."
+
+He smiled down at her.
+
+"I have some perfectly lovely pupils," he answered with a smile.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+
+The original language, punctuation and spelling have been retained,
+except where noted.
+
+The following changes were made to the original text (the original text
+is on the first line, the correction is on the following line):
+
+  23: you, do you?'
+      you, do you?"
+
+  27: to say. Wouldn't you like to know what
+      to say: Wouldn't you like to know what
+
+  34: didn't stay but came over to us." She
+      didn't stay but came over to us. She
+
+  55: the next time," said Agnes, and after
+      the next time," said Agnes, "and after
+
+  108: right away," declared Nettie, for it takes
+       right away," declared Nettie, "for it takes
+
+  117: "I'll wait," he said, and if you will
+       "I'll wait," he said, "and if you will
+
+  161: make you an honorary member, Agnes said."
+       make you an honorary member," Agnes said.
+
+  167: time this morning.
+       time this morning."
+
+  231: Miss Newman says she is better all the
+       "Miss Newman says she is better all the
+
+  242: precepts. As president, of your club,
+       precepts. As president of your club,
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's A Dear Little Girl at School, by Amy E. Blanchard
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DEAR LITTLE GIRL AT SCHOOL ***
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