Mary's comprehension, and I'm afraid she
wouldn't know what to make of an ice in the middle of the dinner.
The chances are she'd want to serve it hot."

"All right, Teddy. What next?"

"I would suggest a lemon pie for Bradley," smiled Thaddeus.

"What do you say to Ellen's making one of her tipsy-cakes?"
suggested Bessie.

"Just the thing," said Thaddeus, smacking his lips with enthusiasm.
"I could eat a million of 'em. Then we can finish up with coffee
and fruit."

So it was settled. The invitations were sent out, and Bessie
devoted her energies for the next ten days to making ready.

Ellen's culinary powers were tested at every meal. For dinner one
night she was requested to prepare the puree, which turned out to be
eminently satisfactory. Thaddeus gave her a few practical lessons
in the art of opening oysters, an art of which he had become a
master in his college days--in fact, if his own words were to be
believed, it was the sole accomplishment he had there acquired which
gave any significance whatever to his degree of B. A.--so that in
case the "fish gentleman" failed to appear in time nothing
disastrous might result. Other things on the menu were also
ordered at various times, and all went so well that when Thaddeus
left home on the chosen Wednesday morning, it was with a serene
sense of good times ahead. The invited guests had accepted, and
everything was promising.

As Thaddeus had said, Wednesday was his busy day, and never had it
been busier than upon this occasion. Everything moved smoothly, but
there was a great deal to move, and finally, when all was done, and
Thaddeus rose to leave his desk, it was nearly six o'clock, and
quite impossible for him to reach home before seven. "I shall be
late," he said, as he hurried off; and he was right. He arrived at
home coincidently with his guests, rushed to his room, and dressed.
But one glimpse had he of Bessie, and that was as they passed on the
stairs, she hurrying down to receive her guests, he hurrying up to
change his clothes.

"Oh, Thad!" was all she said, but to Thaddeus it was disconcerting.

"What is the matter, dear?" he asked.

"Nothing; I'll tell you later. Hurry," she gasped, "or the dinner
will be spoiled."

Thaddeus hurried as he never hurried before, and in fifteen minutes
walked, immaculate as to attire, into the drawing-room, where
Bessie, her color heightened to an unusual degree, and her usually
bright eyes fairly flamin