"The first thing to do is to find food," declared David, leading the way to the dining room.
The whole party exclaimed with admiration at the tastefully decorated table. A huge favor pie in the shape of a deep red rose ornamented the center, the ribbons reaching to each one"s place. There were pretty, hand-painted place cards, too, tied with red and gold, the soph.o.m.ore colors.
Mrs. Gray occupied the place of honor at the head of the table. She was fairly overflowing with happiness and good cheer, as she beamed on first one and then another of her children.
The young people did ample justice to the delicious repast served them.
The favor pie created much amus.e.m.e.nt, as the favors were chosen to suit the particular personality of each guest. After every one had finished eating, a season of toasts followed.
"Here"s to dear Mrs. Gray," said David, raising his gla.s.s of fruit punch, "May she live to be one hundred years old, and grow younger every day.
Drink her down."
Mrs. Gray proposed a toast to Mrs. Nesbit, which was drunk with enthusiasm. Presently every one had been toasted, then Miriam rose and begged permission to speak.
It was unanimously granted.
"I suppose you all think I invited you here to-night for the express purpose of having a good time," she said. "So I did. But now that you are here, I want to talk to you about a plan that I hope you will like. It rests with you whether or not it materializes. You know that we have a cottage at Lake George, although we do not always spend our summers there.
But I want to go there this year, and you can make it possible for me to do so."
"We"ll carry your luggage and put you on the train, if that will help you out any," volunteered Hippy.
Miriam laughed. "That isn"t enough," she said. "I want every one of you to go, too, Now don"t say a word until I"m through. Mother has given her consent to a house party, and will chaperon us. Don"t one of you refuse, for I shall pay no attention to you. You simply must come. We are to start next Tuesday, and stay as long as we like. So you"ll have to make your preparations in a hurry. We"ll meet at the station next Tuesday morning at 9.30. That"s all."
Then what a babble arose. Grace and Nora were in high glee over the proposed trip. They were sure of going. Anne was rather dubious at first, but Grace overruled her objections, and made fun of Jessica for saying she had promised to visit her aunt.
"Go and visit your aunt afterwards, Jessica. Remember, she is a secondary matter when compared to us," she said laughingly.
"I shall take my car," said Tom. "That will help things along."
"Mother has promised me one," remarked David, "so we"ll have plenty of means of conveyance.
"How sorry I am that you can"t go, too, Aunt Rose," exclaimed Tom regretfully.
"Nonsense," replied his aunt, "you don"t want an old woman at your heels all the time. Besides, I must visit my brother in California this summer.
I haven"t seen him for several years."
"Let"s drink to the success of the house party," cried Reddy, "and pledge ourselves to be on time next Tuesday morning. Drink her down."
When next we meet our Oakdale boys and girls, they will have returned to their books after a long happy summer. In "GRACE HARLOWE"S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL"; Or, "FAST FRIENDS IN THE SORORITIES," the girl chums will appear as members of a High School sorority. Here the reader will make the acquaintance of Eleanor Savell, a clever but exceedingly wilful girl, whose advent in Oakdale High School brings about a series of happenings that make the story one of absorbing interest. The doings of a rival sorority, organized by Eleanor, the contest for dramatic honors between Eleanor and Anne Pierson and the mischievous plot against the latter originated by the former and frustrated by Grace Harlowe, are among the features that will hold the attention and cement the reader"s friendship for the girl chums.
THE END