when she sets out to
accomplish something the more determined and enthusiastic she becomes.
I listened to her with amazement.

"I have a dress I'll lend you," she said resolutely. "And I'll go over
and fix you up as soon as it's a little darker. Go now and bathe your
eyes and just trust to me."

Miss Ponsonby's long habit of obedience to whatever she was told stood
her in good stead now. She obeyed Jerry without another word. Jerry
seized me by the waist and waltzed me around the room in an ecstasy.

"Jerry Elliott, how are you going to carry this thing through?" I
demanded sternly.

"Easily enough," responded Jerry. "You know that black lace dress of
mine--the one with the apricot slip. I've never worn it since I came
to Glenboro, so nobody will know it's mine, and I never mean to wear
it again for it's got too tight. It's a trifle old-fashioned, but that
won't matter for Glenboro, and it will fit Miss Ponsonby all right.
She's about my height and figure. I'm determined that poor soul shall
have a dissipation for once in her life since she hankers for it. Come
on now, Elizabeth. It will be a lark."

I caught Jerry's enthusiasm, and while she hunted out the box
containing the black lace dress, I hastily gathered together some
other odds and ends I thought might be useful--a black aigrette, a
pair of black silk gloves, a spangled gauze fan, and a pair of
slippers. They wouldn't have stood daylight, but they looked all right
after night. As we left the room I caught up some pale pink roses on
my table.

We pushed through a little gap in the privet hedge and found ourselves
under the acacia tree with Miss Ponsonby peering anxiously at us from
above. I wanted to shriek with laughter, the whole thing seemed so
funny and unreal. Jerry, although she hasn't climbed trees since she
was twelve, went up that acacia as nimbly as a pussy-cat, took the box
and things from me, passed them to Miss Ponsonby, and got in at the
window while I went back to my own room to dress, hoping old Mr.
Ponsonby wouldn't be running out to ring the fire alarm.

In a very short time I heard Miss Ponsonby and Jerry at the opposite
window, and I rushed to mine to see the sight. But Miss Ponsonby, with
a red fascinator over her head and a big cape wrapped round her,
slipped out of the window and down that blessed acacia tree as neatly
and nimbly as if she had been accustomed to doing it for exercise
every day of her life. There were possibilitie