sual, while Alene finished a page of a daily journal which
she sent each week to her parents.

She beamed at the questioner across the table.

"Oh, Uncle Fred, I'd love to! What shall we do? May I get the girls
to help, and make it a regular Happy-Go-Lucky affair?"

"Certainly--and the boys, too, if you wish. I notice they are
generally mustered in, 'to help or to hinder,' as the case may be. You
might have an outside party if the weather is fine."

"And then we could invite so many more!"

"Invite all the town if you wish. I'll see that there's enough big
sugar cakes to go round if we break the bakery. Suppose you ask Mrs.
Major and Kizzie in, and see how it strikes them!"

Alene skipped away and soon returned with the buxom housekeeper and the
rosy little maid, all in a stir of excitement.

"I see Alene had no trouble in finding enthusiastic allies," said Uncle
Fred in his genial way, that always set people at ease.

Everybody found seats and a pleasant hour followed in offering
suggestions and making plans, while Prince lay on the rug lazily
nodding approbation, or giving a friendly bark when Alene asked his
opinion.

That was only the beginning of a happy time. The girls were deep in
blissful preparations the next ten days; the cheerful helpers, Mat and
Hugh, held many consultations with Jed and the gardener and Uncle Fred;
an array of pavilions, swings, maypoles, rustic seats and tables sprang
up in the Towers' grounds, and the kitchen range glowed like a furnace,
turning out enough good things to feed a multitude.

Laura, Ivy, and Alene spent two afternoons in the library, making out
lists and addressing invitations. Uncle Fred peeped in once or twice,
bringing sheets of postage-stamps.

"May I take a few invitations? There are some fellows big and little
I'd like to ask," he inquired.

Alene glanced up from her task, pen in hard and nodded absent-mindedly.

"I suppose so."

Apparently overwhelmed by her condescension, he furtively picked up
half a dozen invitations and slouched away with a culprit-like mien
that made Ivy lean back in her chair and laugh till she was out of
breath.

Alene gazed at her wonderingly with such an innocent air that another
explosion resulted, and sober Laura, all unaware of the little by-play,
gave Ivy a smart rap on the back, which only increased her mirth.

"Hysterics?" inquired Alene.

"I thought she was choking, but she's only practising to be a
conto