as a single bit of
candy. I'll do what I can. Those poor kids shall have a treat if it
costs me my last dollar. We owe them something decent."

Antonio, whose lapses from duty were only occasional, and who had been
reprimanded lately by Miss Rodgers, who suspected his delinquencies,
proved deaf on this occasion to Peachy's blandishments. He protested,
with quite aggravating virtue, that it was as much as his place was
worth to smuggle even a solitary cream-cake, and that for the future he
must no more be the conveyor of contraband sweet stuff.

"Stumped in that quarter," mourned Peachy. "But I'm not going to let
this beat me. I've been cultivating a friendship with the cook! Don't
laugh! I thought it might come in useful some day. I gave her my blue
butterfly brooch (I had two of them!), and I took a snap-shot of her in
her Sunday clothes, and she was immensely pleased and flattered. I
haven't developed it yet, by the by, but I will, and print her two
copies and mount them. If that doesn't melt her heart into sparing me a
little butter and sugar it ought to. We can square it this way: none of
us ten must eat any butter or sugar at breakfast or tea to-morrow, then
we'll have a real right to have it given us afterwards. Don't pull
faces! You can have marmalade or jam. What sybarites you are!"

"Right-o," agreed the Camellia Buds, sorrowfully accepting the
sacrifice.

"But couldn't the juniors contribute some butter, too?" added Sheila.

"It might be noticed if too many went without. Besides, it's the
hostesses who ought to provide the party, not the guests."

Benedicta, the cook, was vulnerable, especially in view of the
self-restraint exercised by the heroic ten. She made a hasty calculation
of the amount of butter they would normally have consumed, added a
package of sugar, and lent them a pan and a spoon. Peachy carried away
these spoils chuckling, and hid them carefully behind the summer-house.
Then she racked her brains and composed what she considered a suitable
and telling invitation:

"To all who'd love a Fairy Fete
I beg you come, and don't be late,
We offer fun that will not wait.

"The time is fixed for half-past four,
You'll have to squat upon the floor,
We ask you all--but can't do more.

"Our summer-house is small but handy,
Indeed we think the place most dandy,
We're going to try and make you candy.