moiselle_, is it you? Come in, come in!"

The speaker's smiling countenance and kindly air banished Laura's fears
and she passed the threshold proudly, followed by her triumphant train.

Glancing at Mr. Edmonds, Ivy saw his smile grow broad and broader as
they filed past one by one. Her trepidation vanished and when her turn
came she met his amused glance with an answering smile.

"Are there any more of you?" he inquired, in a whimsical tone.

"No, sir, unless Lafe and Donald; I guess they're ashamed to be seen!"

"Hello there, Lafe and Donald," cried the gentleman, and the two boys,
who were standing aloof, ashamed to be seen, and yet afraid they
wouldn't, pushed their way through the crowd with an air of bravado
which their blushing cheeks denied, and were duly admitted. Upon
reaching the inside they joined a crowd of their chums, leaving the
girls to be piloted to a reserved bench by an usher whom Mr. Edmonds
had delegated.

How happy and proud they felt as they settled themselves in their
places and looked around them!

The stage was in darkness, making it seem the more mysterious in
contrast with the glaring light of the auditorium.

The hall was filling rapidly with the citizens, their wives and
daughters, all dressed in their best, and our party was much interested
in watching the new arrivals when suddenly Ivy gave Laura a nudge, and
the latter, following her glance, saw a short gentleman accompanied by
a tall lady in a rustling summer-silk coming up the aisle followed by
two girls, one dressed in white, the other in pale green, with mammoth
white hats.

"The Ramseys!" whispered Laura, and Alene, who was watching the little
ones, looked up in time to receive a gracious smile from Vera, who
appeared not to see the other girls, although she was entering the seat
directly in front of them.

On being seated Hermione looked around and seemed pleasantly surprised
to see them. She nodded and smiled and holding her arm, leaned back to
whisper,

"Don't mention taffy or my arm will start stirring again!"

Suddenly the lights went down in the main hall, to shine with redoubled
brilliancy upon the stage.

"Look at the Jacks-in-the-boxes!" cried Nettie, as several heads were
seen popping from under the stage.

"It's the band," explained Laura. Sure enough, it was the musicians
who took a row of chairs in front of the curtain, and with a
preliminary tuning up and a few toots of the clarinet, began a swin