ade of toothpicks and stuck
together with green peas was in imminent danger of collapse if Dorothy
did not hurry up and come home. Then Aunt Winnie had planned a
surprise for all her children who were away at school, the letter also
stated, and on the list, for the good time promised, were Dorothy,
Tavia, Nat, Ned, Joe (and of course little Roger), besides a guest that
each of these mentioned would be allowed to invite home for the
holiday. Easter was only a few weeks off.

The day passed quickly indeed. Spring sunshine had come, everything
had that waiting look it takes on just before the buds come, and
Dorothy was almost happy. If only everybody could know that she and
Tavia had not done wrong and had not been in disgrace!

The classes were dismissed and Dorothy was up in her room reading her
father's letter for the third time.

There was a rush through the hall! Then the girls' voices in laughter
stopped exactly at her door!

The next minute Tavia bolted into the room.

"Not a soul to meet me!" she began cycloning around and winding up with
crushing Dorothy. "Oh, you old honey-girl!" and Tavia kissed her
friend rapturously. "I have been dead and buried without you. Run
away, little girls (to those peeping in at the door). Run away--we're
busy."

Dorothy was so surprised she just gazed at Tavia, but a world of love
and welcome went out in the look. "If we had known you were coming,"
she faltered.

"Known it! Couldn't you feel my presence near! Well, James brought me
up. But say, Dorothy! I ran across--whom do you think?"

"Couldn't guess!"

"Viola Green! And say, she looked like her own ghost. Her train had a
long wait at noon and she saw me. And the way she bolted out of her
car and made her way to my window, just to say, 'Tell Dorothy to go
ahead and tell her story! It will be all right!' Now I'd like to know
if Viola Green had really gone daffy?"

"Why, no, Tavia. It is all about--Oh, it is such a long story."

"The very thing for mine--a serial. There's Cologne and Ned and Dick!
Come on in, everybody! I want you all to see this hat before I take it
off. The milliner declared I would never get it on right again."

In rushed the "troop," all so glad to see Tavia back, and all aching
for a glimpse of the new spring hat.

"Tell me about the story, Cologne," said Tavia. "You can go on
admiring me just the same. What's Dorothy's serial that Viola has the
copyright on?"

"That