Lena laughed at Rob"s disgust.
"I wonder if she will think any parties that are given at Avondale are too _near_ to be interesting?" she said.
"I wouldn"t risk inviting her if I didn"t want her to accept," Rob replied as he picked up his books and turned toward the door.
"Oh, say, Lena!" he cried, "I just happened to think of Captain Atherton"s party. Do you suppose Gwen is invited?"
"Why, Rob! What a question! Captain Atherton wouldn"t slight any child in this neighborhood. Of course Gwen will be invited," Lena said.
"Then she"ll be there," cried Rob. "She couldn"t stay away."
Lena was a little late in preparing for school, and as she ran down the walk, she saw Leslie Grafton just ahead of her, hurrying down the avenue.
"Leslie!" she cried, and Leslie turned a laughing face toward her.
"Come on!" she cried, "I can"t wait. Catch up with me, Lena. I want to ask you something."
Lena was swift footed, and soon they were running along together.
They were just in time to avoid being late, and as they entered, Leslie whispered:
"I"ll ask the question at recess."
It happened that at recess, everyone was ready to ask the same question.
"Does anyone know what the "festivities" are to be at Captain Atherton"s party?"
That was the question that each asked the other, but while all asked the question, no one could answer it, and Harry Grafton laughed as he said;
"We"ll have to wait "til the evening of the party, and we might as well wait patiently."
"Rose won"t tell us," Lena said, reaching to give one of Rose"s brown curls just a little "tweak."
"At first when you asked me, I said I didn"t know," said Rose, "but now I"ll have to say that I know all of Uncle John"s plans for the party, but I won"t tell."
"And Sprite knows something about it, for see! She"s laughing now,"
said Rob.
"Like Rose I know, but won"t tell," Sprite said.
"I won"t tease then," said Princess Polly, "because they ought not to tell, and I don"t _really_ want them to. I"d like to know now, but I"d rather have it a surprise when the evening comes."
"Polly is right, as usual," said Rob Lindsey, to which Harry Grafton replied in a teasing voice:
"Does anyone believe that Rob would say that _anything_ that Polly does is _anything_ but right?"
"Quit teasing," cried Rob, "or I"ll return the favor."
Harry at once became silent, and the others laughed, for it was well known that he admired Rose, and that he did not like to be teased.
On the evening of the party the little guests arrived promptly.
"Festivities to commence at eight," the invitations had said, and there was not a boy or girl who cared to miss any of the pleasures offered.
Captain Atherton"s new home was a blaze of light, and every room was decorated with a wealth of greenery, and glowing blossoms.
Mimic b.u.t.terflies hovered among the flowers, and soft music sounded through the halls. Silvery bells were vying with the triangle in producing tinkling tones that chimed in sweet accord with the melody that the strings were playing.
At one end of the s.p.a.cious parlor a tiny grove of palms and tall shrubs looked as if transplanted from out of doors.
Captain Atherton, tall and handsome, greeted his little friends gaily, and when all had arrived, he led them toward the grove.
"Wait here a moment," he said, "and see what happens. This is an enchanted grove, and a sweet enchantress is in hiding here.
"Come forth, oh lady fair, Dear spirit of the air, We long to see thy face, Thy form of airy grace.
Some things we long to know Thou well can"st tell, I trow."
For a moment not a sound save the soft music was heard. Then,--a rustling as of silken draperies, or like wind among the leaves, and the branches parted, and Iris Vandmere, radiant, smiling, extended her pretty hands in greeting. Clad in softest silk gauze in lilac, and ivory white, she suggested the blossom for which she was named. Like a fair iris bloom she appeared, diamonds on her neck and in her hair representing dewdrops.
"Dearest friends, I heard you call, I have come to greet you all.
I am now your fairy queen, And, beneath these branches green, I will grant, to each of you That your dearest wish come true."
"Oh-o-o-o!" came like a sigh of delight from the excited children as they gazed at the lovely figure.
Each had a wish, and wisely she answered, for Iris was as quick witted as she was beautiful.
"I wish I could make everyone happy," said Princess Polly.
"Be as loving and kind as I am told you now are, and your wish will come true," said Queen Iris.
"I"d like to do something _very_ nice for father and mother that would be a sweet surprise," said Sprite. "I _wish_ I knew what to do."
"Your wish is granted," said Iris. She wrote a few words on a slip of pink paper.
"Look at this to-morrow morning and you will know just what to do,"
she said as she placed the tiny folded paper in Sprite"s hand.
In the same sweet manner Iris contrived to grant the wishes of all.
Gwen held back.
"Have you no wish?" Iris asked kindly, and Gwen hesitated, then she said;
"_Yes_. I want to be admired _all_ the time and _everywhere_."
Iris looked searchingly at the pretty, but pert face. Then she said;
"Be kind, be good, be sweet, be true, and all the world shall smile on you."
"Oh, I don"t mean _that_ way!" said Gwen in disgust.