" said Miss Merington; "and now run along
home to Mother Maynard's mansion."

Marjorie laughed at this sally, and started for home. But at Miss
Frost's booth she found Gladys, and the two walked around the hall,
looking at the other booths. They were very interesting, for each lady
in charge had endeavored to get all the novel ideas possible for which
her special initial could be used.

X, Y, and Z had been declared impossible, but some clever girls had
concluded it would be a pity to omit them, and said that they would
combine the three in one booth. For X, which, they said, always
represented "an unknown quantity," they had prepared some express
packages. These contained merchandise of some sort, and had been sent
through the express office, in order to give the proper appearance of
expressed parcels. They were for sale at a price that was fair for their
contents, and people were asked to buy them unopened, thus purchasing
"an unknown quantity." Then there were yeast-cakes for sale; and toy
yachts, marked "For Sail"; and yellow things of any kind; and zephyr
garments, such as shawls and sacques and slippers.

This booth was very attractive, and was draped with yellow cheesecloth,
with black X's and Y's and Z's all over it.

In order to make a variety, the R booth was a restaurant, the L booth
served lemonade, and the C booth, candy and cakes.

"Isn't it fun?" said Marjorie to Gladys, as at last they started
homeward. "What are you going to wear, Glad? I don't know of any color
that begins with F."

"No," said Gladys. "Miss Frost says there's nothing but fawn-color, and
that won't do. So we're all to wear white, with lots of _frills_. And
we're to have feathers on our heads instead of ribbon bows, and we're to
carry feather fans. I wish I was in your booth, Midget."

"Yes, I wish so, too; but of course we couldn't be in the same. But
Father's coming at six to take us all to supper in the restaurant booth.
Perhaps we can get together then."

"Yes, I hope we can. I'll ask Mother about it."

The girls parted at Gladys' gate, and Marjorie went on home to luncheon.

"It's perfectly lovely, Mother!" she cried, as she entered the house. "I
never saw such a beautiful fair."

"That's good, girlie; and now you must eat your luncheon and then lie
down for a little rest before you go this afternoon."

"Oh, Mother Maynard! Why, I'm not a bit tired. You must think I'm an old
lady."

Mrs. Maynard smiled at the bright