come on, Nan," urged Laura. "Be a sport. Isn't Grace worth a
chance?"

And Nan, unwilling to spoil the others' sport, assented, though with
some inward misgiving.

"Can't we go to town to-morrow after recitations, and get the things?"
Bess proposed.

"O. K.," acquiesced Laura contentedly. "And now to return to the vital
question. What, Grace darling, are you going to wear at Palm Beach?"

"I'd like to get new gowns and things," Grace replied; "but it's hard to
get summer clothes in winter. Of course, I've got last summer's things."

"I'd feel that I was pretty well fitted out already if I had _your_ last
summer's things," observed Laura.

"I should say as much!" agreed Rhoda. "The idea of Grace Mason needing a
new summer outfit. What's the objection to that lovely crepe de chine
that made me green with envy when you wore it last summer?"

"Or that voile with the heliotrope flowers?" supplemented Nan. "Or the
white net with the embroidered flounces?"

"Or that blue taffeta that you looked so stunning in at the garden
party?" said Rhoda.

"Or the old rose georgette with the touch of black velvet, to say
nothing of half a dozen others?" added Bess.

"Since you are resurrecting the old gowns so vigorously," laughed Grace,
"I begin to think I may get through without so many new things after
all, especially as the old gowns will be new to the people I shall meet
at Palm Beach. Of course mother will have a dressmaker, and she'll alter
and freshen up and make a few new things. But she can't do such a very
great deal in the little time from now to the holidays. If it was any
other place than Palm Beach, I wouldn't even think about dress. But it's
such a very swell place, you know, girls, and I don't want to feel out
of place while I'm there. Of course you know how I feel."

"Sure we do," Laura assured her. "But I'll guarantee that with what you
have and what you'll be able to add, you'll feel very much in it, even
at Palm Beach."

"And now, ladies," said Rhoda, "that the all-important subject of dress
is disposed of, I move that Nan pass around for our refreshment those
fine Florida oranges I see on the table there."

Nan laughingly complied, and Bess suddenly exclaimed as she peeled the
rind from her orange:

"This reminds me, Grace. How will it seem to be walking through lovely
orange groves with the beautiful golden fruit showing between the
leaves?"

"And," Nan supplemented, "to be able to pick and eat the