the carpenter and gardeners to help you, and if
anything is needed, one of the governesses shall go into town to make
your purchases."

Nothing could have been more gracious. The Committee gave a unanimous
murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with
embarrassment. So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain
self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of
saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the
timid guest. The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire
without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so
they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which
they presently were in the kindest of manners.

"I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance. Success
to your efforts! You will have plenty to do, so I won't detain you any
longer. Good afternoon!"

The Committee retired in haste, gasped relief in the corridor, and
promptly set about collecting forces for the furtherance of its aim.
They enlisted the sympathies of the workmen engaged in the grounds,
selected parties of amateur gardeners to supplement their efforts, and
chose the forty prettiest girls in the school to be on the "acting
staff." Each new worker was pledged to secrecy, as surprise was to be
the order of the day, and a certain portion of the grounds was marked
off by placards bearing the announcement that "Trespassers would be
persecuted!" A casual observer might have imagined a slip of the pen in
this last word, but the girls knew better. It would be persecution,
indeed, and of no light nature, which would be visited upon a willing
violator of that order.

For the next ten days preparations went on busily, both outdoors and in
the various studies. Lessons, of course, could not be interrupted, but
the hours usually devoted to games, added to odd five minutes of
leisure, made up a not inconsiderable total. The onlookers reported
eagerly among themselves that the dancing mistress had been pressed into
the service, and that sundry mysterious boxes had been sent to the
leading members of the Committee from their various homes. Everyone was
agreed that "It" was to be very grand, and they prepared to enjoy the
entertainment in a hearty, but duly critical fashion; for when we
ourselves have not been asked to take part in an enterprise, pride has
no better consolation than to think how much more successf