Whyn said, and they spent
considerable time talking over the whole affair, and arranging their
plans. The interest now became very keen, and when the tickets had
been made each boy undertook to sell as many as he could. In a week's
time all the tickets were sold, and more had to be made by Mrs. Britt
and Whyn.

The scouts practised hard for the important event, and Captain Josh
spared no pains in his efforts to drill them as thoroughly as possible.
Each one had now passed the tenderfoot tests, and were ready for their
badges. They had also earned the money for their suits, and it was a
great day when all appeared before Whyn dressed in their complete
uniforms. The girl was delighted, and her eyes sparkled with joy as
the captain marched them up and down outside her window.

The big affair was to take place Thursday evening, and when the scouts
visited Whyn on Monday afternoon they were in fine spirits. Everything
had been arranged, many tickets had been sold, and it looked as if the
concert would be a great success. They found the invalid girl quieter
than they had ever seen her before, though she greeted them with her
usual smile and listened to them for several minutes as they talked
about scout matters.

"There is something which troubles me," Whyn at length remarked.
"Every concert should have singing, or music of some kind. Now, we
have not arranged for one song, and I am sure the people who come will
be disappointed. I am so fond of singing myself that I know how much
it will be missed. But I suppose it can't be helped. I wish you boys
could sing."

"Maybe some of the choir members would come," Rod suggested.

"Oh, do you think they would?" Whyn eagerly asked.

"I am not quite sure that they will. But I will speak to grandad about
it. I know he will do all he can to help."

"I hope they will come," and Whyn gave a tired sigh. "I haven't heard
any singing for such a long time, that I am hungry for it. I had such
a wonderful letter from Douglas to-day," she continued, after a slight
pause. "He says that Anna Royanna, the great new American singer, has
been in Ottawa, and he heard her one night. She is quite young, so he
writes, very beautiful, and with such a sad sweet face. The people
went fairly wild over her voice, and she had to sing one piece twice
before they would let her stop. And do you know, she is coming to St.
John, and will be at the Opera House on Wednesday night. Just think