had been invited to Severndale were
eager for dances with little gypsy Rosalie, tall, stately Stella,
winsome Natalie, shy Marjorie or the scornful Juno, whose superiority
was considered a big joke.

During their week in Annapolis Helen and Lily Pearl had made tremendous
strides in a certain way. Foxy Grandpa had met a gushing, gracious
widow, who made Wilmot her home. That the lady's hair was of a shade
rarely produced by nature, and her complexion as unusual as her
innumerable puffs and curls, Foxy Grandpa was too dull of sight and mind
to perceive. He had gone through life somewhat side-tracked by more
brilliant, interesting people, and to find someone who flattered him and
fluttered about him with the coyness of eighteen years, when three times
eighteen would hardly have sufficed to number her milestones, went to
the old gentleman's head like wine, and he became Mrs. Ring's slave to
the vast amusement of everyone in Wilmot.

And Mrs. Ring promptly took Helen and Lily Pearl under her chaperonage,
introduced her son, a midshipman, to them, who in turn introduced his
room-mate, and a charming sextet was promptly formed. Poor Mrs. Vincent
was likely to have some lively experiences as the result of that
Christmas holiday, for Paul Ring and Charles Purdy were one rare pair of
susceptible simpletons, if nothing worse.

And so passed the week at Severndale for Mrs. Harold's party, Peggy once
more the gracious little chatelaine, sure of herself and entertaining
her guests like a little queen, a perfect wonder to the other girls.
Polly was happy as a grig, and all the others equally so. The older
people rejoiced in this rare reunion, and Captain Stewart each day grew
more devoted to his "Howland bunch" as he called them. The three girls
openly adored him, and dainty, quiet little Mrs. Howland beamed upon
everyone, little guessing how often the good Captain's eyes rested upon
her when she was unaware of it, or how he was learning to esteem the
mother of the three young girls whom he pronounced "jewels of the purest
water."

But that lies in the future. It is once more Saturday morning and once
more a big dance is pending to which all are going.

This time Shortie was taking Gail, Wheedles had asked Stella, Happy was
looking after Juno, Polly would go with Ralph, Peggy with Durand,
Rosalie would have cried her eyes out had any one save Jean Paul been
her gay gallant, Natalie was Bert's charge, Marjorie and big Doug had
b